Colombia  - IOM, in partnership with Google, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Colombian Reintegration Agency, EAFIT University and the NGO, Colnodo, this week presented in Bogota, the ‘Window for Peace’ and ‘JuvenTIC’ initiatives.

The two initiatives will facilitate access to new technologies for vulnerable populations and actors associated with the conflict, such as ex-combatants participating in the reintegration process, in order to increase opportunities for training, employment and entrepreneurship. The use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) will ultimately support peacebuilding in Colombia, benefit vulnerable populations and positively impact the peace process.

USAID and IOM firmly support the Government of Colombia in the implementation of strategies to prevent recruitment of children and adolescents, create protective environments and strengthen processes to reintegrate ex-combatants.

JuvenTIC provides training in new technologies for vulnerable populations in order to increase opportunities for education and employment for Colombian youth, close the digital divide and prevent recruitment by illegal armed groups. Training will be provided to around 2,500 youth.

Window for Peace was developed with the Colombian Reintegration Agency as a virtual marketplace that brings together supply and demand and promotes the entrepreneurial projects of ex-combatants participating in the reintegration process. This pilot is expected to benefit 60 ex-combatants.

According to Katie Kerr, Deputy Chief of Mission, IOM Colombia, ICTs have the potential to mitigate certain vulnerabilities that at-risk youth face and contribute to successful social and economic reintegration of ex-combatants: “Putting technology in the hands of participants gives them the tools to explore the world around them and achieve sustainable incomes. As the project name suggests, ICTs open a new window.”

Carolina Angarita, Country Director for Google in Colombia, expressed satisfaction with Google’s support to both initiatives, which she hopes will increase national capacity to address the needs of conflict-affected persons and contribute to peacebuilding.

Partnerships with the private sector, like the one launched this week with Google, are fundamental to IOM’s work in Colombia and are valued especially for their contributions to technological and social innovation.

For more information, please contact Angelica Alzate at IOM Colombia, Tel. +571 6397777, Email: angalzate@iom.int