Weaving Juntanza

USAID Colombia's Indigenous Peoples and Afro-Colombian Empowerment Activity (IPACE), called Juntanza Étnica by its partners, is implemented by ACDI/VOCA in 31 municipalities and works with 79 ethnic peoples. It seeks to strengthen governance, economic autonomy, identity, and development of indigenous and Afro-Colombian peoples in their own sustainable ways. The Activity is implemented in collaboration with 10 ethnic partner organizations. This process is based on an ethnic differential approach that fosters co-creation and adjusts to territorial and population particularities, respecting and promoting ethnic diversity.

In Colombia, prior consultation is the participatory mechanism through which ethnic peoples have the opportunity to participate effectively in decisions of measures or projects (public or private) that impact their communities. Cooperation programs such as USAID have appropriated mechanisms like Meaningful Consultation, which is based on the policy Promoting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Its objective is to strengthen the participation of ethnic peoples to mitigate and protect them from possible damages or affectations, and to support their development priorities and self-determination with inclusion and respect.

In this context, the IPACE Meaningful Consultation pathway is discussed, as implemented in the case of the Consejo Territorial de Cabildos (CTC), and how the CLA approach is incorporated in the subcomponents of internal collaboration and adaptive management. Challenges in the relationship with partner organizations and the opportunity to build, implement, and systematize a replicable strategy for future programs with ethnic peoples will be described.