LAND & RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM - QUARTERLY REPORT, APRIL - JUNE 2014

The program aims to assist the Government of Colombia (GOC) in strengthening its institutional capacity to resolve land issues at the heart of Colombia's decades-long internal conflict. LRDP has four integrated objectives: increasing the capacity of the GOC Land Restitution Unit and relevant agencies to restitute lands to victims of conflict, strengthening the capacity of the Ministry of Agriculture and relevant GOC agencies to formalize rural property, increasing the opportunities for sustainable licit rural livelihoods in conflict-affected areas, and strengthening the GOC's capacity to monitor and evaluate restitution, formalization, and rural development programs. The program's Restitution Component focuses on increasing the capacity of the GOC Land Restitution Unit and relevant agencies to restitute lands to victims of conflict. This involves providing technical assistance, training, and capacity-building support to the GOC agencies responsible for land restitution. The Formalization Component aims to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Agriculture and relevant GOC agencies to formalize rural property. This involves providing technical assistance, training, and capacity-building support to the GOC agencies responsible for formalizing rural property, as well as supporting the development of policies and procedures for formalizing rural property. The Rural Development Component focuses on increasing the opportunities for sustainable licit rural livelihoods in conflict-affected areas. This involves providing technical assistance, training, and capacity-building support to rural communities, as well as supporting the development of policies and procedures for promoting sustainable licit rural livelihoods. The Information and Knowledge Management Component aims to strengthen the GOC's capacity to monitor and evaluate restitution, formalization, and rural development programs. This involves providing technical assistance, training, and capacity-building support to the GOC agencies responsible for monitoring and evaluating these programs, as well as supporting the development of policies and procedures for monitoring and evaluating these programs. The LRDP is being implemented in partnership with the GOC and other stakeholders, including nongovernmental organizations, community groups, and private sector entities. The program is expected to have a significant impact on the lives of rural Colombians, particularly those who have been displaced or affected by the conflict. In the first quarter of 2014, the LRDP made significant progress in implementing its four components. The Restitution Component made progress in providing technical assistance and training to the GOC Land Restitution Unit and relevant agencies. The Formalization Component made progress in providing technical assistance and training to the Ministry of Agriculture and relevant GOC agencies. The Rural Development Component made progress in providing technical assistance and training to rural communities. The Information and Knowledge Management Component made progress in providing technical assistance and training to the GOC agencies responsible for monitoring and evaluating restitution, formalization, and rural development programs. Overall, the LRDP is making significant progress in achieving its objectives and contributing to the peace and development process in Colombia.