Colombia Team Europe Intitaive Forests for Biodiversity, Climate and Peace (EUTF)

Description What is done in the programme or project and why, what results are pursued, who benefits from the activities and who are involved in the implementation.

A peace agreement between the Colombian government and the guerrilla organization FARC was signed in September 2016 to end the five-decade conflict. In December 2016, the EU established a support fund to maintain Colombia's stability and implement the peace agreement. Finland joined the group of financiers in 2019, with a contribution of 150,000 euros. Achieving total peace in Colombia is a priority for both the country's government and the EU delegation. The mandate of the EU Peace Fund ended in December 2021, but its operation will continue based on the Team Europe Initiative -structure, the funding of which comes from NDICI funds directed to the EU delegation and voluntary contributions from member countries. The total budget of the project is about 10.5 MEUR. The TEI project is nationally significant to stop deforestation and illegal logging. The focus is especially on involving local communities affected by the conflict in environmental protection and sustainable use of natural resources. The project has a clear connection to the peace process. Logging has played a key role in the internal conflict, as areas have been extensively conquered for coca cultivation and as staging areas for guerrilla groups. By preventing illegal land grabs and deforestation, the presence of civilians and alternative sources of income for them is enabled, which greatly contributes to the implementation of the peace agreement. The project primarily promotes the focus of Finland's development policy to strengthen society's democracy and ability to function. The project also strongly promotes curbing climate change and strengthening the rights and status of local communities, young people and women and girls.