A Regional Employment Fund (REF), launched this week by IOM in
Colombia, will assist people demobilized from illegal armed groups
who are in the process of reintegrating into civilian life to find
employment.

The REF, managed by IOM and created with more than US$ 1.6
million of funding from the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) and the private sector, will operate in 13
cities and benefit at least 1,000 people in need of employment.

For every three months that a company employs a demobilized
person, the Fund will pay the equivalent of another month's
salary.  This must be reinvested in working capital, machinery
and equipment so that the company can continue to generate
employment.  This ensures secure employment for four
months.  The process can be repeated up to three times per
person, which will allow for one full year of employment with as
many beneficiaries as the company needs.

"This Fund is about making a commitment to the kind of Colombia
that we all want: a Colombia at peace and developing," said Jose
Angel Oropeza, Chief of Mission, IOM Colombia, during the formal
launch ceremony in the Presidential Palace in Bogota.

The REF will initially operate in cities with the highest
concentration of demobilized people, but it expects to broaden its
reach to areas of strategic interest to the Disarmament and
Demobilization and Reintegration process in Colombia.

To date, the Fund has garnered commitments from 26 Chambers of
Commerce and 50 private companies while some governors and mayors
in western Colombia have also expressed interest in participating
in the initiative.

A survey of private companies in the cities where the fund
operates in order to determine the perception of businessmen
towards the reintegration process and their willingness to provide
employment opportunities to demobilized persons will also be
carried out in November. 

IOM has supported the government of Colombia since 2006 in the
social and economic reintegration of 51,000 people demobilized from
illegal armed groups.  This latest initiative is part of
efforts to encourage private sector participation to generate
employment for demobilized individuals.  According to figures
released by Colombia's High Council for Reintegration, 16,957
demobilized people were employed in August.

For more information, please contact:

Adriana Correa Mazuera

IOM Colombia

Tel: +57.1.622.7774

Ext. 140

Email: "mailto:acorrea@iom.int">acorrea@iom.int