Colombia's Development Strategy
The Colombian government is pursuing a development strategy based on profound redistribution, with a focus on environmental justice, social inclusion, and peace-oriented territorialization:
Colombia is considered one of the most biodiverse countries in the world—with a mosaic of the Andes, the Pacific, the Amazon Basin, and the Caribbean. At the same time, the country exemplifies the complex interplay between sustainable development, post-conflict statehood, environmental justice, and social inclusion.
After decades of armed conflict, Colombia is undergoing profound political and institutional change. The government is committed to “Total Peace” (Paz Total), sustainable rural development, and climate justice. While cities like Bogotá, Medellín, and Cali are considered pioneers of urban innovation, rural regions in the Amazon, Cauca, and La Guajira remain plagued by poverty, exploitation of natural resources, and weak infrastructure.
With an active climate and biodiversity policy, ambitious social reforms, and a commitment-driven shift toward socio-ecological transformation, Colombia is gaining geopolitical and development policy relevance—in the Andean region, within the Pacific Alliance, and beyond South America.
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National Development Plan (PND) 2022–2026
The government's core agenda, centered on five key areas of transformation: land reform, the energy transition, social justice, regionalization, and climate protection.
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Just Energy Transition Policy
A strategy for the gradual reduction of fossil fuel sources while strengthening decentralized renewable energy systems—with a focus on the participation of indigenous, Afro-Colombian, and rural communities.
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Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Policy
Comprehensive land reform to redistribute farmland, revitalize local food systems, and strengthen agroecological production methods—particularly in former conflict zones.
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National Ecological Restoration Plan (2021–2030)
A program to restore degraded ecosystems, with the goal of ecologically revitalizing over 750,000 hectares of land by 2030.
These strategies are interlinked—with a clear guiding principle: social peace, environmental justice, and economic inclusion are not separate agendas, but three sides of the same transformative logic.
An Overview of the Challenges
Land inequality & rural marginalization
Colombia is among the countries with the highest concentration of land ownership in the world: 1% of landowners control more than 80% of the arable land. Many smallholder farmers, indigenous groups, and internally displaced persons lack secure access to land or resources.
Deforestation & Environmental Conflicts
Deforestation is advancing, particularly in the Amazon region, due to illegal mining, extensive livestock farming, and drug cultivation. Colombia recorded more than 123 environmental conflicts in 2022—many of which resulted in violence against activists.
Climate Resilience & Water Security
Water supply in rural areas is unevenly distributed—about 12 million people lack safe access to drinking water. At the same time, heavy rains, landslides, and droughts make large parts of the country highly vulnerable to climate-related risks.
Urban Disparities & Social Insecurity
In urban peripheries—particularly in Bogotá, Cartagena, and Cali—there are high rates of unemployment, informal housing conditions, and a potential for violence. Women, young people, and internally displaced persons are disproportionately affected.
Global Alliances & Multilateral Cooperation
Climate Diplomacy & Biodiversity Stewardship
Colombia co-hosted COP16 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and is actively involved in the coalition advocating for a global agreement to combat plastic pollution. The country is also a member of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature & People.
Green Financing & Amazon Initiatives
Colombia receives substantial support from Germany, Norway, the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and multilateral banks—particularly for protected areas, indigenous forest governance, and the bioeconomy in the Amazon region.
SDG Partnerships & South-South Cooperation
Colombia is an active member of multilateral coalitions focused on SDG progress, food systems, gender equality, and digital education—including partnerships with the FAO, UNDP, ECLAC, and IDB.
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