Colombia - Over 1,100 demobilized Colombians created their own businesses in 2014 as part of the reintegration process established by the government through the Colombian Reintegration Agency (ACR).

With support from IOM and USAID, as well as regional partners, 1,158 (221 women and 937 men) ex-combatants created a total of 1,119 new businesses. They included 1,084 individual ventures and 35 joint ventures.

“This initiative supports the business talents of those in the reintegration process, so they can create their own businesses as a way to ensure their legal status.  This not only fights unemployment within the reintegrating population, but also contributes to development in municipalities and departments, as some businesses generate employment beyond family members, thereby strengthening the consolidation of regional peace,” said Joshua Mitrotti, General Director of the ACR.

The strategy was carried out in 23 of the 32 departments in the country.  Priority was given to departments with the largest number of ex-combatants in the process of reintegration.  The five departments in which the majority of the businesses were established were: Córdoba, with 150 new businesses; (13.4 per cent of the total); Cundinamarca with 123 (10.9 per cent); Antioquia with 114 (10.1 per cent); Santander with 98 (8.7 per cent); and Magdalena with 87 (8.7 per cent).

“Thanks to a partnership between international cooperation and the government, a monitoring mechanism was created in 2012 for these projects, with the goal of promoting business sustainability.  Today, more than 90 per cent of the businesses in which this new methodology was applied are still in operation,” said the Director of USAID in Colombia, Peter Natiello.

Before the monitoring mechanism was in place, almost half of businesses were failing.

Besides technical support provided to the government, IOM supports individuals with the design of their business plans and small business training, which includes accounting, marketing, sales and customer service. It also provides monitoring and advice to ensure that businesses are sustainable. 

“We monitor businesses in terms of production, commercialization, planning, administration, and financial sustainability.  The results allow us to identify strengths and opportunities that facilitate growth or stability, as well as the weaknesses and threats that could put them at risk,” said Alejandro Guidi, IOM Chief of Mission in Colombia.

“For us, this means realizing a dream, because when we left the armed group, we felt uncertain – we had not studied and had no money, and nobody wanted to give us work because we were demobilized,” said Graciela, an ex-combatant undergoing the reintegration process, who now owns an internet cafe with her husband in Barrancabermeja.

The project has received funding of over 12 billion pesos (USD 6 million) from ACR, USAID and IOM. 

New businesses include retail stores, hairdressing salons, machine rental, music classes, construction, industrial and manufacturing, coffee production; as well as livestock and agricultural production.  A total of 233 new businesses are rural; 221 are owned by women; 24 owners are Afro-Colombians; 19 are indigenous people; and 14 entrepreneurs are persons with physical disabilities.

There are currently 56,541 demobilized Colombians; 21,229 of them are active in the government reintegration program and 8,068 have already fulfilled the requirements to successfully graduate from the program.

Colombia’s armed conflict has lasted more than 50 years and has left 220,000 people dead, mostly civilians. In 2003, the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), the main paramilitary group, negotiated their collective demobilization under Law 975 or the Justice and Peace Law. Their 35,000 ex-combatants joined the government reintegration program and were obliged to participate in community service.  In addition, the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have been negotiating a peace agreement in Havana for over two years.

For further information please contact

Jadin Vergara
IOM Colombia
Tel: 571 639 7777 Ext. 1715
Email: jvergara@iom.int