Bogota, July 11 – Colombia is undergoing a transition phase from conflict to peace building, facing great challenges in terms of sustainable business development. GGGI has actively engaged by promoting genuine sustainable projects in areas where the conflict had its roughest impact. The funding of these projects, likely by both private and public financiers, will not only imply groundbreaking changes on the livelihood of these communities, but will also inspire future upcoming business developments in areas where the conflict did not allow many possibilities in the past. GGGI will follow up closely with these projects, and also continue supporting an additional pipeline formulating process of 15 more projects.
GGGI and the High Commissioner’s Office for Post Conflict co-hosted an event today to showcase the first batch of four sustainable and bankable agricultural projects, as a leading effort in the implementation of the first point of the Havana Peace Accord signed in November 2016 by the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). More than 50 high-level representatives of government, the private sector, impact investment funds and international cooperation institutions attended the presentation of these 4 productive initiatives of cocoa, hass avocado, jaggery and special coffee. Community leaders representing approximately 600 producers shared their testimony linking up the implementation of these projects with real peace building and a more prosperous future for their communities.
The four structured projects aim to boost the production and transformation capacity of small farmers, increase market access -national and international-, and increase their environmental sustainability practices. Added all together, required investments amount to approximately USD$ 16 million, directly benefiting 658 families located in highly impacted areas by the conflict and cover a total of 1,137 productive hectares.
About GGGI
Based in Seoul, GGGI is an intergovernmental organization that supports developing country governments transition to a model of economic growth that is environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive. GGGI delivers programs in 27 partner countries with technical support, capacity building, policy planning & implementation, and by helping to build a pipeline of bankable green investment projects. More on GGGI’s events, projects and publications can be found on www.gggi.org. You can also follow GGGI on Twitter (@GGGI_Colombia; @gggi_hq) and join us on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.
Contact:
Carolina Jaramillo
GGGI Country Representative
Bogota, Colombia
Darren Karjama
GGGI Head of Communications
Seoul, Republic of Korea