Program of Alliances for Reconciliation (PAR) FY 2020 Quarterly Report: October - December 2019

The program aims to promote awareness and mobilization initiatives that boost economic and social opportunities through transformative alliances. PAR has formed high-impact alliances with major actors in the private and public sectors, media, academia, and civil society to conceptualize and implement initiatives that contribute to changing perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors. The program consists of three main components: supporting truth-telling and memory initiatives, promoting greater awareness of reconciliation efforts, and leveraging strategic public and private alliances that foster socioeconomic opportunities in target municipalities. On May 28, 2019, PAR signed a modification agreement with USAID to incorporate a programmatic response focused on addressing issues related to the migration crisis resulting from political and economic instability in neighboring Venezuela. During the reporting period from October through December 2019, PAR's direct technical assistance and support led to several notable developments and accomplishments. Through PAR's project with the National Center for Historical Memory (CHM), 40 victim families in Bojayá received albums to preserve the memory of their loved ones and promote guarantees of non-repetition. Over 1,000 people attended the Rural Colombia summit on rural development organized by PAR partner Semana, with another 70,000 tuning in to the event's live stream. Additionally, three ANDI member companies held volunteer events replicating the Vamos Colombia methodology, with 232 employees taking part in community-building activities in Antioquia and Magdalena. More than 300 people attended the Macrorrueda para la Reconciliación business networking event hosted by CRC in Santa Marta. Semana Rural published two editions of its free monthly paper, with a total of 121,000 copies. PAR's alliance with Fundación ANDI strengthened inclusive value chains and purchasing for 111 producers and impacted over 500 families, helping some participants to rise above the poverty line for the first time. In national reconciliation initiatives, youth in Bogotá and Cúcuta launched a newspaper to promote positive messages of reconciliation. 700 people participated in the final two editions of the Mountain Biking Classic Races for Reconciliation in Cúcuta and Apartadó. 107 journalists participated in workshops on strategies that avoid stigmatization in relation to migration coverage. 20 young offenders in Medellín led a volunteering event with volunteers from the private and government sectors, promoting narrative changes by practicing behaviors that promote coexistence. DecidoSer workshops were conducted in 10 municipalities, reaching over 1,000 young people and promoting positive messages of reconciliation. PAR's work in the Pacific region focused on strengthening inclusive value chains and purchasing for 111 producers, impacting over 500 families. In the Caribbean region, PAR supported the Rural Colombia summit and the Macrorrueda para la Reconciliación business networking event. In the Central region, PAR partnered with the National Center for Historical Memory to provide albums to victim families in Bojayá. In the Orinoquia region, PAR supported the Mountain Biking Classic Races for Reconciliation. In the Amazon region, PAR partnered with Fundación ANDI to strengthen inclusive value chains and purchasing for 111 producers. In the Border Municipalities region, PAR supported the DecidoSer workshops and the Macrorrueda para la Reconciliación business networking event. Overall, PAR's efforts during the reporting period contributed to promoting awareness and mobilization initiatives that boost economic and social opportunities through transformative alliances. The program's work in various regions and with different partners aimed to change perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors, helping Colombians to come to terms with the past, engage in constructive dialogue, and transform old narratives forged by conflict.