Sida's work in Colombia
Sida supports peace-building, human rights, democracy and gender equality in Colombia. This support also includes humanitarian aid for people affected by armed conflicts, as well as initiatives to reduce environmental and climate impacts.
Why do Sida work in Colombia?
Armed violence despite the peace agreement
Despite the 2016 peace agreement with the FARC guerrillas, parts of Colombia are still plagued by armed violence. Civilians are affected by violence and displacement. Journalists, trade unionists, and human rights and environmental activists are subjected to threats and murder. Children and young people are forcibly recruited.
Increased violence against women and girls
Violence against women and girls is a serious social problem. Perpetrators use sexual violence as a weapon in the conflict. Patriarchal structures and impunity exacerbate the situation, and many victims are denied justice. Women living as internally displaced persons are particularly vulnerable.
Rapidly worsening environmental and climate effects
Illegal and uncontrolled deforestation for livestock grazing and agricultural land is damaging the country’s rich biodiversity. Climate change is increasing the risk of extreme weather events such as floods and droughts. Illegal drug production and mining are exacerbating environmental degradation and fuelling armed conflicts.
Examples of what Sida contributes to
Empowering women, peace and victims of the conflict
Sida supports the implementation of the peace agreement between the government and the FARC guerrillas, as well as peace-building efforts in conflict-affected areas. The aid strengthens vulnerable minorities, as well as the participation and safety of women and girls, and ensures justice for victims of the conflict. Sida also contributes to the search for people reported missing following decades of armed conflict.
More people voting
Sida supports organisations working to increase voter turnout and ensure free and fair elections, whilst combating irregularities and disinformation. This work strengthens people’s opportunities to participate in democracy and contributes to increased trust in elections and democratic institutions.
Justice for women and LGBTQI people
Sida supports organisations working to promote truth, justice and redress for women and LGBTQI people who have been subjected to gender-based violence during the conflict.
Sida's work in Colombia
In Colombia, Sida carries out both long-term development cooperation to contribute to peace and sustainable development in the country, and humanitarian aid to save lives and alleviate suffering in emergency situations.
Millions of Colombians are in need of humanitarian assistance. Despite the 2016 peace agreement, armed conflict is still ongoing in Colombia, and the country is also affected by recurrent natural disasters. Sida’s humanitarian support provides people with, for example, access to clean water, healthcare and shelter.
Sida works with international humanitarian and civil society organisations and prioritises the people most in need of support.
Sida’s humanitarian support in Colombia saves lives and alleviates suffering.
In the humanitarian crisis analysis, you can read about the crisis and see which partner organisations are working there in 2026.
Among other things, Sida helps to strengthen the protection of human rights defenders and supports projects that lead to greater gender equality and greater respect for human rights.
The Swedish support is intended to improve the prospects for implementing the 2016 peace agreement with the FARC guerrilla group and to strengthen the conditions for peacebuilding.
Sida focuses on the participation and safety of minority groups, women and girls, the rights of victims of conflict, and the search for missing persons.
Here are some examples of programmes and projects we support:
Through the UN Migration Agency (IOM), Sida supports Colombian institutions working on transitional justice and the implementation of the peace agreement, including the war crimes tribunal and the unit responsible for tracing missing persons.
Sida supports civil society organisations working on a long-term basis to strengthen the rights of conflict victims. Support for the state system strengthens transitional justice, with a particular focus on women and LGBTQI people who have been subjected to gender-based violence during the conflict.
Sida also collaborates with the International Centre for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), which provides support and advice to build and strengthen transitional justice institutions. The ICTJ also supports civil society organisations and victims’ own organisations, and increases their participation in the transitional justice process.
Women are particularly vulnerable during the conflict. UN Women, the UN agency for gender equality and the empowerment of women, receives support from Sida in its work to collect testimonies from women and LGBTQI people in conflict-affected regions.
These testimonies are included in the Truth Commission’s report, which was presented in 2022, and highlight how the conflict has particularly affected women and LGBTQI people.
The reintegration of former guerrilla members into society is vital to achieving peace. Through We Effect, Sida supports the socio-economic reintegration of former FARC combatants, including by improving their opportunities for employment and livelihoods.
Sida also supports peacebuilding through, amongst other things, the UN and EU peace funds, with initiatives for the reintegration of former guerrilla members and military personnel, as well as support for rural development and livelihood opportunities. They are also working to ensure that public authorities have a greater presence for people living in hard-to-reach and conflict-affected areas.
Sida strengthens the private sector’s involvement in peacebuilding and helps to ensure that people in conflict-affected areas have greater opportunities for work and livelihoods. This helps to support vulnerable young people into employment, thereby reducing the risk of them being recruited into armed groups or becoming involved in illegal economic activities.
The programme is carried out in collaboration with the business sector, private companies and institutions. Improving employment conditions for young people and strengthening access to relevant training are key elements of the programme.
Sida helps to protect human rights defenders by empowering communities and civil society organisations to identify, assess and manage security risks themselves.
One example is the support provided to the Christian Peace Movement, which, by raising awareness of risks, protects and strengthens organisations that are subjected to threats or attacks. In this way, they can continue to carry out their work.
Colombia – Kristna Fredsrörelsen (in Swedish)
Sida supports the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). They produce independent reports containing concrete recommendations for the Colombian government. They also collaborate with several government agencies, including those responsible for protecting human rights defenders and combating corruption.
Sida promotes gender equality by strengthening the freedom and empowerment of women and girls. Here are one example supported by Sida:
Sida supports UN Women in its work to promote women’s political and economic empowerment and to prevent violence against women. The Colombian civil society platform MOE maps and analyses risks of irregularities and election-related violence. Through its support for MOE, Sida also helps to prevent violence against women in politics.
Sida works to limit the direct and indirect impact of armed conflict on ecosystems and the climate. Sida supports nature-based solutions, green growth and ensuring that local communities have a say in how natural resources are used.
Here are some examples of programmes supported by Sida:
The people living along Colombia’s conflict-torn Pacific coast are directly dependent on the natural environment around them for their survival. Here, Sida is supporting the La Minga (All Together) programme to conserve two marine protected areas. The aim is to conserve biodiversity and promote the sustainable use of ecosystem services.
Article on La Minga: Protecting the mangrove forest gave Merlin hope for the future (in Swedish)
Through multilateral development funds, Sida supports initiatives in conflict-affected areas that help to combat deforestation, promote sustainable agriculture and improve access to basic public services such as water, sanitation and energy supply. Together with the IDB, Sida has developed a guarantee scheme for lending money to Colombia, which enables investments focused on the environment and climate, and on greater gender equality.
Updated: September 16, 2026