Strengthening Afro-Colombian and Indigenous Peoples in Colombia
As Strategy Manager for the Ethnic Chapter of the Peace Agreement of the USAID and ACDI/VOCA Juntanza Étnica Program, Gustavo Lugo (ILG 2018, Colombia) works to strengthen the governance, autonomy, identity, and development of indigenous and Afro-Colombian peoples through the preservation of their own sustainable practices.
According to the 2018 national census, the black, Afro-Colombian, racial, palenquera, and indigenous population represents 14% of the total population in Colombia. However, 23% of these communities are unemployed, 80% live in multidimensional poverty compared to 16% at the national level, and 25% have been displaced from their original territories.
Juntanza Étnica, a program funded by USAID and managed by ACDI/VOCA, represents the continuity and strengthening of the collaboration between USAID and indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities. Approved in December 2021 with a planned duration until November 2026, the program is implemented with civil organizations spanning these communities in close collaboration with the public and private sectors in 31 municipalities in the Caribbean, Pacific, and the Amazon regions, and in Bogotá.
The program aims to contribute to the development of these communities through the following objectives, transversal approaches and strategic themes:
Goals
• Own government and institutions
• Self-determined and sustainable economic development
• Recognition of cultural diversity
• Emergency response
Transversal Approaches
• Intersectionality and gender
• Communication for transformation
• Collaboration, learning and adaptation
Strategic Themes
• Biodiversity
• Ethnic Chapter of the Peace Agreement
Juntanza Étnica works hand in hand with ten indigenous and Afro-Colombian organizational platforms of national and regional impact to identify and respond differently to the needs of these diverse population groups and by co-creating and implementing peacebuilding and sustainable development initiatives, aligned with the USAID policy for promoting the rights of indigenous peoples. Juntanza Etnica equitably involves both indigenous and Afrodescendant communities and prioritizes women, youth, the LGBTIQ+ population, people with disabilities, and populations affected by violence.
Expected Results of the Ethnic Meeting Program
• 6.5 million people reached with the communication strategy for transformation
• 36 million dollars leveraged from the public, private, and civil society sectors to promote ethnic inclusion
• 60 thousand people impacted by the implementation
• 7,000 people linked to work
• 1000 public-private alliances created and or strengthened
• 230 ethnic organizations strengthen their organizational performance
• 40 public policies designed and strengthened
• 500,000 hectares with improvements in their natural resource management
• 1,600 people trained in gender and intersectionality issues
Gustavo Lugo reflects on what it means to be part of Georgetown University's Innovation and Leadership and Government program (ILG).
“The ILG Program stands as a fundamental pillar in the training of leaders committed to facing the challenges of the knowledge society. This initiative provides a valuable opportunity to interact with multilateral organizations and exchange diverse regional perspectives by promoting meetings with leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean. Beyond this, it promotes transformational leadership, a key piece for the joint creation of innovative policies and programs that positively impact the living conditions of populations with less access to development in the region.”
From his role at Juntanza Étnica, Gustavo has collaborated with Eddy Xavier Marcelin, ILG 2016 from Colombia, current Coordinator of the Diversity and Inclusion Management of the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF).
“In this context, being part of the ILG alumni network is an extraordinary opportunity to continue collaborating with regional leaders. It allows us to share good practices and lessons learned, propose relevant research, and offers the possibility of contributing to the formulation of programs aimed at improving social and economic indicators in our regional environment.”
Thank you, Gustavo, for sharing this important initiative with LALP. Juntanza Étnica is an excellent example of successful collaboration between the private, social, public, and international cooperation sectors for the common good.
Source: USAID/Colombia, ACDI/VOCA, ILG Alumni Network
Bio
Gustavo has a Master's degree in Management and Evaluation of Investment Projects, Specialist in International Cooperation and Development Project Management, Graduate in Education and Economist. Gustavo has more than 14 years of experience managing and planning public policies, social development programs, monitoring development plans, project management, preparation of business plans, international cooperation, working with ethnic groups, afro-descendant and indigenous populations, and managing non-profit organizations.