For rural afro-colombians, the armed conflict in colombia continues to cause violence and insecurity, especially for those living on or near lands contested by non-state armed actors

The Inter-American Foundation (IAF) awarded a $385,895 Project Grant to Empresa Comunitaria De Mujeres De Guapi Rios Unidos under the IAF Assistance for Overseas Programs (CFDA #85.750) federal grant program. The grant will support the grantee's efforts to consolidate the production and marketing of local products while strengthening local agricultural and economic initiatives for Afro-Colombian women's associations in Colombia through January 2025. Specifically, Empresa Comunitaria De Mujeres De Guapi Rios Unidos will work with its member associations and families to diversify livelihoods, preserve cultural heritage, and guarantee food and economic security for communities affected by armed conflict along the Pacific coast. The award is part of IAF's broader Women Investing in Growth and Security initiative to empower women as business and community leaders in Colombia.

The IAF supports historically marginalized groups to enhance security and improve their quality of life. Our grantee empresa comunitaria DE mujeres rurales DE guapi (ríos unidos) is made up of a dozen associations of afro-colombian women living among three rivers of cauca's pacific coast in southeastern colombia. The members of ríos unidos have learned to resist waves of violence and displacement by diversifying livelihoods and preserving their heritage. Ríos unidos is working with its members and their families to consolidate the production and marketing of local products, while supporting its member associations to strengthen local agricultural and economic initiatives in order to guarantee their food and economic security. This grant is part of the IAF's broader initiative to build a just and lasting peace in colombia, women investing in growth and security (WINGS) initiative to empower women as business and community leaders.