As Colombia attempts to emerge from more than 50 years of civil war, there is an overwhelming need to build new economic opportunities across the country, reintegrate former combatants and marginalised populations, and promote social cohesion. The UN Business and Human Security Initiative at LSE IDEAS, with United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and PeaceStartup Foundation, unveiled a two-year joint project called ‘Improving durable solutions and peacebuilding through Human Security Business Partnerships in post-peace agreement Colombia’ at launch events in Bogota and Medellin. The launch took place on 18th June 2019, and Mary Martin and Vesna Bojicic-Dzelilovic, the Directors of the Initiative, attended.
The project involves partners from government, business, and civil society to improve human security for vulnerable population groups in areas that have been most affected by Colombia’s armed conflicts. It will pilot the first application of the Human Security Business Partnership Framework, which has been developed by LSE IDEAS. The Framework helps the private sector to collaborate with government and communities to address security and development needs and structure long-term relationships that are critical to ensuring sustainable development and peace. As well as providing advice on applying the Human Security Partnership Framework, LSE IDEAS will lead the knowledge exchange component of the project, establishing an academic network to support policy, practice changes, and research outcomes from the project’s activities.
