Spanish cooperation and peacebuilding in Colombia (2012-2020): Notes for reflection

Abstract

The following reflection note serves as an exploratory exercise to understand the scope and meaning of Spanish cooperation in the construction of peace in Colombia, whose internal armed conflict is the longest in Latin America. Analyzing the period between 2012 and 2020, the different master plans of the Spanish cooperation are reviewed, as well as the country association frameworks and the AECID reports. All of the above, to value the Spanish contribution of cooperation in Colombia, first, in general terms, and specifically, in relation to the peacebuilding process. By way of conclusions, although Spain's cooperation in Colombia has been very important, since the beginning of the last decade it has begun to decline very significantly in economic terms but showing relative continuity in terms of interventions and social and social priorities. Thus, despite the difficulties and changes in priorities, a distinctive agenda has been built in terms of peacebuilding and support for the Agreement with the FARC-EP, which must be preserved.