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

The program was awarded to ACDI/VOCA by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in 2016, with a budget of $74.9 million. The program's objective is to support 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, helping Colombians to come to terms with the past, engage in constructive dialogue, and transform old narratives forged by conflict. PAR consists of three main components: 1) supporting truth-telling and memory initiatives that enable Colombians to confront and accept the past; 2) promoting greater awareness of reconciliation efforts as a way of spurring mobilization and action; and 3) leveraging strategic public and private alliances that foster socioeconomic opportunities in target municipalities. The program also plays a key role in facilitating solutions to the Venezuelan migration phenomenon and works alongside the Government of Colombia, local governments, public-private alliances, and international cooperation organizations to address topics such as social and economic integration, and promote objective information and positive messages that mitigate outbreaks of xenophobia. During the reporting period of October to December 2020, PAR achieved several notable results. Fundación ANDI's inclusive value chain strategy benefited 8,256 producers and their families. The Grand Rural Summit supported by PAR and Semana reached more than 1.1 million people. Semana Rural published three digital newspapers and received 163,298 visits this quarter and reached 20,640 followers on Facebook. CRC's social media campaign to raise awareness and funds received 3,804 views in September. In national reconciliation initiatives, 18 new ambassadors for reconciliation joined PAR to leverage their media presence and empower youth, the private sector, and opinion leaders to become agents of change. An estimated 1,712,900 listeners tuned in to over 100 community radio stations to learn about how to combat gender-based violence using the 141 hotline. 402,000 people tuned into a Facebook Live to watch chef and influencer Tulio Recomienda promote unity and solidarity between Colombia and Venezuela. 521 positive stories were shared as part of PAR's campaign #SomosPARtedelaSolución (We Are PARt of the Solution). The anti-xenophobia campaign #CelebremosSinFronteras (Let's celebrate without borders) reached at least 2 million people and became the #3 trend in Colombia and #1 in Bogotá, Medellín, Barranquilla, and Cali. In local reconciliation initiatives, 30,000 cacao trees were received by families who were victims of the armed conflict in Cienega to grow organic cacao, in the process fostering reconciliation and building trust. An estimated 1,000 community members from the stigmatized Olaya Herrera neighborhood were reached in a project promoting coexistence and reconciliation. 52 tons of melons worth US$11,740 were produced and sold by Wayuu, migrants, returnees, and displaced persons in La Guajira as part of a legal income-generation project. 7,325 facemasks, 2,765 biosafety kits, 3,000 hospital sheets, 1,000 750ml units of antibacterial gel, and 10,000 surgical gloves were produced by empowered communities in La Guajira. PAR's quarterly report highlights the program's progress and achievements in promoting reconciliation and economic opportunities in Colombia. The program's efforts have reached a wide audience, including producers, community members, and influencers, and have contributed to changing perceptions and behaviors related to reconciliation and xenophobia.