ACF-E: Improvement of the living and health conditions in Cordoba, Nariño and Putumayo

Colombia has been experiencing in the past 50 years a dynamic context characterized by (unevenly distributed) economic growth and a protracted armed conflict with continued humanitarian consequences for the civil population. The possible beginning of a post-conflict phase after the signature of a “Peace Agreement” between the Government and the FARC-guerilla in 2014 or 2015 will open new perspectives for a (complex) transition towards reconstruction, including a high risk of continued armed violence due to the creation of new Post Demobilization Armed Groups.

Improvement of the living conditions (through improved access to safe water, basic sanitation, improved health status, diversified food production) of 29’528 vulnerable people affected by armed violence in the provinces of Cordoba, Nariño and Putumayo and indirectly for 7’129 people of surrounding communities.

Directly 29’528 rural poor and conflict-affected persons, of whom 80% will comprehensively benefit of an improvement of their living conditions. They are part of 14 municipalities (6 in Cordoba, 4 in Nariño and 4 in Putumayo) belonging to 3 provinces, whereas 37% are female, 37% male and 26% are children affected particularly by confinement, situations of displacement and extreme poverty. Additionally, the project will benefit indirectly to 7’129 people living in surrounding communities.

A scaling up process will be carried out in new communities within the 12 municipalities affected by the armed conflict where previous intervention phases had been implemented and where the state presence and basic services are generally lacking (see Annex 7 for detailed list of new communities). In Nariño 2 new municipalities have been added in the project (Linares and Santacruz).

A) 27’990 people have access to safe water and 3’480 to basic sanitation;

B) 5’576 have improved their food security;

C) recipient communities have strengthened their cohesion and 2 grassroots civil society organizations have strengthened their management capacity.

Resultados previstos:  

A) Access to safe water and basic sanitation: 27’990 beneficiaries have improved access to safe water and basic sanitation through communal or private water supplies, installation of water tank and filters, collective sanitation facilities (in schools, health posts) and the necessary training for sustained operations of the water and sanitation systems;

B) Food security and nutrition: 13 communal backyards (serving 1’290 persons) generate increased access/availability of food items and productive capacity of these communities; 550 individual backyards (serving 2’260 persons) increase access/availability of food and their productive capacity and from them about 1300 persons are trained on techniques how to market their production surplus in Putumayo, Nariño; 10 school canteens (serving 560 persons) are rehabilitated or equipped.

C) Institutional/community strengthening: The targeted communities have carried out at least 6 social-exchange gatherings. 90% of the targeted families apply healthy practices within their habitat. 2 beneficiary assessments in each 3 geographic zones are carried out in test communities. 2 local CSOs (in Nariño and Cordoba) improved their knowledge management and thus their capacity to provide services.

Resultados de las fases anteriores:  

During the last 3 phases, more than 28’000 direct beneficiaries have been attended (12% beyond the target).  With the last phase, the health status of 15’273 people (107% of the initial target) affected by the armed conflict could be improved in 7 municipalities, with a reduction of waterborne diseases prevalence by 67% (27% beyond the target).

Insights: Integrated interventions (WASH, Food security/nutrition) brought the best impact on the living conditions of the populations.

Fundación Acción Contra El Hambre – ACH