By: Diego Alejandro Morales
GeoPark Neighbor Relations Coordinator
Peace is essential for sustainable development. In one of the regions most affected by conflict in Colombia, GeoPark partnered with the Javeriana University of Cali’s Institute of Intercultural Studies to run the Putumayo Soñado project, which aims to transform territory through dialogue, reconciliation and inclusive development.
With the hope that more companies and leaders will join this purpose of promoting peace in Colombia, we detail below some of the lessons that we have learned in this process.
Dialogue as a starting point
Dialogue is the fundamental pillar in social transformation processes, and facilitates mutual understanding, promotes agreements and strengthens commitments between different parties. We developed a clear and effective dialogue methodology in the Putumayo Soñado program that has allowed community leaders and Company representatives to find common ground. This process has been key to making development more inclusive and hearing and valuing the voices of all, giving us greater understanding of the complexities of the region and enabling us to design programs that promote progress, reconciliation and social well-being.
The search for common purpose
Putumayo Soñado identifies the territory and the shared vision of its sustainability, prosperity and peace as a common purpose.
We have worked with communities to design projects that promote territorial development on different fronts: reforestation, access to drinking water, training in sustainable agriculture, and local job creation. Beyond the tangible results, the impact also includes the cooperation and trust we have fostered.
Clear rules of the game
Participatively defining clear rules of the game is critical in ensuring the fairness and transparency of the process.
In Putumayo Soñado, we seek to increase participants’ autonomy by providing the necessary tools through access to information on legal rights, ensuring independent dialogue that is free from external pressure. This approach allows each actor to contribute based on their legitimate interests, generating trust and peace of mind that the process reflects collective agreements.
Collaboration as a key to success
Collaboration is critical to the success of any initiative that seeks lasting transformation.
What sets Putumayo Soñado apart is its participative and collaborative approach. Communities are actively involved in the design and implementation of the project right from the beginning. Every initiative is co-created with local leaders, ensuring that solutions are culturally appropriate and respond to people’s real needs.
Constant innovation for change
Meeting the challenge of building more harmonious and prosperous territories demands constant innovation. Debate and collective reflection are critical in finding the different paths that bring us closer to our common purpose.
Putumayo Soñado has shown us that territorial transformation requires new tools and new ways of thinking. Our projects are therefore designed to evolve, allowing continuous adjustments and improvements in response to changes in communities’ social environment and their emerging needs. This adaptive capacity is key to generating long-term impact and ensuring that development is inclusive and sustainable.
In short, peace and sustainable development are two sides of the same coin: one cannot exist without the other. Only through responsible resource management and genuine respect for diversity can we create a more equitable and prosperous future for the country. Putumayo Soñado is a commitment in that direction, and a contribution towards the construction of a legacy of sustainability, inclusion and peace for our host communities.
On today’s International Day of Peace, I invite you to reflect on how we can be transformational actors in the territories, because more than just a goal, peace is a path that we must travel together, with determination and commitment for a more just and sustainable future.
