Colombia Land and Rural Development Program: Revised Year 5/6 Work Plan

The program's revised Year 5/6 Work Plan, spanning from October 2017 to March 2019, outlines key activities and interventions to be implemented in the regions of Meta, Montes de María, and Tolima. The program has made significant progress in the past year, with the Rural Development Agency increasing funding to conflict-affected communities, the National Land Agency titling land for essential public services, and the Agency for Territorial Renovation launching Development Programs with a Territorial Focus (PDET). LRDP has played a pivotal role in advancing these achievements by implementing key activities such as the creation of municipal land offices, promoting public-private partnerships, and developing plans to improve tertiary road systems. The extension of LRDP presents a unique opportunity to work with the new national government and regional governments to advocate for the continued implementation of strategic interventions and adoption of tools and approaches developed by the program. This will ensure that USAID's past investments are not lost and will allow for effective linkage of national entities with regional governments. The program will focus on several key activities, including the implementation of a pilot to carry out gender-equitable massive formalization of land parcels in Ovejas (Sucre) combined with multipurpose cadaster. This pilot will work in close collaboration with the National Land Agency and refine the methodology to enable replication by the agency in other parts of Colombia. Additionally, the program will continue to promote and strengthen public-private partnerships for the cacao, honey, milk, and coffee value chains in Meta, Montes de María, and Southern Tolima. The program will also develop the plans and designs to improve tertiary road systems in Tolima and Cesar. The LRDP's work plan is being drafted at a critical time, with the Government of Colombia facing unprecedented parliamentary and presidential elections. The program's extension will enable it to complete Colombia's first systematic land tenure formalization pilot in Ovejas, Sucre, and document the lessons learned from this experience to inform the next round of pilots. The program's integrated approach to land and rural development activities has been a key objective and significant challenge for the Program's interventions. The extension of LRDP presents a unique opportunity to showcase a robust integrated approach in select LRDP municipalities, given advances in the land restitution program, increased GOC commitment to land tenure formalization, and the genesis of multiple public-private partnerships in the three regions prioritized by the contract modification. The program's activities and interventions will be implemented in close collaboration with national entities, regional governments, and local stakeholders. The program's success will depend on the effective implementation of these activities and the adoption of tools and approaches developed by the program.