Colombia: dialogue spaces for private companies, authorities and indigenous peoples to present at European Development Days

EDD is Europe’s leading forum on development and international cooperation. Organised by the European Commission, the forum brings together the development community to share ideas and experiences. Each year EDD brings together more than 40,000 participants from more than 150 countries, representing 4,500 organisations from the development community.

This year’s theme is “Addressing inequalities: building a world which leaves no one behind.”

The report lab, “Let’s Talk! Public-private dialogue: a booster for inclusive and sustainable growth,” takes place on June 18 at 15:15. Organized in collaboration with DAI, as coordinator´s session it will count on the intervention of a European Commission (EC) policy officer, a Belgian entrepreneur, a Team Leader supervising an EU-funded project in the Virunga National Park (Democratic Republic of Congo), a representative of the Moroccan Government, and an international expert in the rights of indigenous peoples, Mikel Berraondo, director of the Social Innovation Department at ZABALA Innovation Consulting. Hosted by the Trade, Private Sector Development, and Engagement (TPSD/E) facility, the panel will discuss the rationale of private sector engagement in development processes and the need to engage with businesses and civil society in building more inclusive economies. Exploring various public-private dialogue initiatives, it will highlight the successes and challenges of the EU’s new approach to development cooperation.

Berraondo will foocus its presentation in the building of inclusive business through dialogue spaces for companies, indigenous peoples and government (on the basis of Due Diligence) and how this experience in Colombia has been implemented.

Business activities have often been a source of conflicts and violations of Indigenous People´s Rights. This can turn into win-win relationships under the umbrella of Due Diligence in business and Human Rights and Free Prior and Inform Consultation. Repsol, together with indigenous peoples from 5 macro regions in Colombia, and the assitance of AECID and ZABALA, have put this in practice in the region of Alta Guajira in Colombia: conducting prior risk assessments together with Indigenous Peoples, identifying potential risks and implementing capacity building activities to empower local communities and improve livelihoods. This led to a new initiative at national level: an open dialogue space among Indigenous Peoples, public authorities and private sector for more inclusive businesses.

The traditional approach of economic development has been often limited to certain social groups, while many others have been left aside and deprived of wealth. Empowering vulnerable groups, like indigenous peoples, to take part in businesses activities is a way to promote their inclusion and leave no one behind on the process to improve livelihoods.

Sharing the pioneering experience of the dialogue space between indigenous communities, public authorities and private companies in Colombia in EDD 2019 can set the path for a new way of investing in third countries by sharing the added value with local communities, empowering the most vulnerable and building inclusive business cases.

The EDD will be an excellent meeting point to know and share experiences about how is possible to combine businesses activities and respect to Indigenous People´s Rights.

Follow along on Twitter at #EDD19 and #ThinkTwice, the EDD digital campaign that uses everyday objects to highlight the often life-threatening inequalities which persist all over the world.