FRAU-PAZ

Since the 2016 peace agreement, Colombia has faced the major challenge of finding a lasting s olution to its long-standing armed conflicts. The Magdalena Medio region – an area rich in biodiversity and home to vital water and forest resources – has been particularly affected. Despite its central importance for biodiversity and climate protection, the region continues to suffer from structural violence, social inequality and massive environmental destruction.

In the context of the Colombian peace process, women in particular – for example through the Organización Femenina Popular (OFP) – have developed innovative approaches to peace that integrally link ecological sustainability, collective memory and social structures. From a gender-specific perspective, they make a significant contribution to strengthening social cohesion and protecting territorial resources. The long-term preservation of these ecosystems is proving to be key to a just and sustainable peace.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE:

To examine environment-related peace strategies employed by women's communities in Magdalena Medio, based on a concept of the 'feminine' – with particular attention to the role of the Organización Femenina Popular.

Specific objectives:

To analyse the concept of 'femininity' within the context of the development of the Organización Femenina Popular – with a particular focus on the territorial perspective and its ecological dimensions.

To identify and document the strategies and practices developed by women in Magdalena Medio in the fields of environmental protection and peacebuilding. Central to this is a community-based process that promotes the exchange between local knowledge and academic approaches – for example, through interactive workshops and collaborative knowledge-sharing formats.

To characterise the framework conditions for the implementation of ecological peace strategies in Magdalena Medio – particularly with regard to the challenges posed by the armed conflict, the role of women in the transformation process, and the region's potential to contribute to the national environmental agenda.

Development of strategies to highlight the experiences, progress and challenges faced by women in Magdalena Medio, with the aim of raising public awareness in Colombia of their contribution from a female perspective and securing recognition at both regional and national levels.

The FRAU-PAZ research project examines women's peace strategies in the Magdalena Medio region of Colombia, which are based on ecological and gender-equitable approaches. The focus is on analysing the practices of the Organización Femenina Popular (OFP), which has for decades combined environmental activism with perspectives on women's issues and the politics of memory.

Key areas of focus

1. Theoretical framework and contextual analysis

The project begins with an interdisciplinary examination of theoretical approaches to environmental peace, transitional justice, women and the concept of 'the feminine'. In parallel, an in-depth analysis is carried out of the socio-political and environmental context of the Magdalena Medio region.

2. Participatory field research

In close cooperation with the OFP and local communities, ethnographic methods such as interviews, focus groups and participant observation will be employed. The aim is to document women's experiences in relation to peace work, environmental activism and collective memory.

3. Knowledge dialogues and co-production

Through participatory workshops and exchange formats, local knowledge is brought together with academic perspectives. Collaboration with universities in Colombia and Germany facilitates a binational dialogue on sustainable environmental strategies – particularly in water-sensitive 'sponge regions'.

4. Analysis and policy context

The data collected will be systematically analysed to assess the contribution of women's environmental initiatives to the peace process. The analysis will also take into account structural challenges such as violence, marginalisation and institutional shortcomings.

5. Visibility and societal uptake

To disseminate the findings, the project is developing a variety of formats – including audiovisual content, podcasts and reports. These not only enhance the visibility of women's voices but also contribute to the national environmental and peace agenda.