Victoria Reccoppa
Country: USA
Background - Political Science
Research Project: Explaining the Gap in Sustainable Development Programmes in Bogota, Colombia: A Qualitative Study
Background: Colombia has one of the largest populations of internally displaced persons in the world and Bogotá, its capital city, is one of the main towns of reception. Many IDPs living in Bogotá are from rural areas and, upon arrival in the urban centre, do not possess the necessary skill set to incorporate themselves into the formal economy. Service provision for IDPs is focused on emergency aid and humanitarian assistance, typically lasting the first three months of registered displacement. Because there is a substantial lack of sustainable development projects, such as income generation, job skills training, and housing programmes, when the emergency assistance has ended, many IDPs are not self-sufficient and become more vulnerable to the corresponding conditions and diseases of urban slum-dwelling and poverty, creating a cycle that is very difficult to break.
Methods: Using qualitative methods, NGO and FBO workers and government officials participated in semi-structured key-informant interviews to explore existing resources and perceptions on the focus of programmes and policy for internally displaced persons in Bogotá, Colombia.
Results: There were found to be three main challenges to implementing sustainable development programmes in Bogotá or other urban centres. The Colombian government and the Constitutional Court have created progressive and inclusive laws, but there is very little done to ensure execution. Secondly, the harmful orchestrated image to the international community, often down-playing the situation of displacement and the refusal to admit there is an ongoing conflict, is preventing appropriate allocation of funding as well as limiting worldwide attention on a very serious crisis. And thirdly, Colombia has proven itself a unique case study: a conflict country with one of the highest displaced populations in the world, yet maintaining a stable government and relatively thriving economy. Because of the comprehensive laws and the structural security of the government, the weaknesses that should be addressed when trying to effect change are unclear. Finally, groups were found to be underutilising potentially beneficial interdisciplinary partnerships, and thus neglecting existing available resources.
Conclusions: The existing resources in Bogotá are extensive, particularly the dedication of the Catholic Church and its integral position in Colombian culture, rehabilitation centres’ focus on beneficiaries regaining a productive role in society, the academic and legal experts working toward a solution, and the resilience of the displaced population. There are cultural issues to overcome such as the structural racism, classism, gender inequality, and prejudice against IDPs that permeate the country and contribute to the current situation of displacement. Specifically, this affects the focus of programmes because many do not acknowledge or accept the reality that the majority of IDPs are staying and not returning. But with the formation of more interdisciplinary networks, these issues can be overcome and more effective sustainable development programmes can be implemented.
Keywords:
Internally displaced persons, income generation, sustainable development programmes, armed conflict, qualitative