Research4Peace in Colombia

Dear WeMakeIt supporters,

Happy 2024! It has now been more than 6 months since you have helped me reach my fundraising goal to support my research in Colombia. I am writing to provide you with an update of what I have accomplished, thanks to your support, since then!

I completed my first round of research in Colombia in September 2023. I spent two very busy weeks in the country, during which I:

• Conducted 26 interviews, including with high-level government officials but also indigenous, Afro-Colombian and campesina community leaders

• Organised two interactive workshops (one in Bogotá and one in Cauca), during which I brought together 17 diverse Colombian women - including lesbian, bi-sexual and trans women, indigenous women, Afro-Colombian women, former fighters and rural women - to jointly discuss the research, generate insights for it and ideas for the next phases

• Attended and spoke at 7 events, including closed-door roundtables, public civil society events, a discussion at the University of Popayan, where I was one of the main speakers, and two events to commemorate Indigenous Women’s Day in Cauca.

The trip resulted not only in a wealth of data (which I also complemented by 20 additional online interviews), but have also allowed me to create and deepen important relationships, to make sure my research is guided by the perspectives and needs of the diverse Colombian women.

These relationships have already had tangible results:

• I have co-authored an article on the ways in which Colombian women activists have used local institutions and advocacy to advance their agenda with two of the Colombian colleagues who have participated in the research. The article is currently in the last rounds of review, but I will share it with you as soon as it is published!

• I have written a short essay reflecting some of the discussions on what «peace» and the peace agreement means to women activists, for a feminist magazine based in Cauca, Colombia. This is a small way of giving back to the community that has received me so warmly. I am proud to have been able to support this excellent initiative! 

• I have supported a group of feminist activists in Cauca in applying for a small grant, based on some brainstorming discussions we have had as a result of my research.

I have also advanced with data analysis, and have been able to produce first draft chapters of my thesis - including one that focuses on a feminist institutionalist analysis of Colombia’s peace architecture. I hope to be able to share more on this with you soon!

Meanwhile, I am planning to return to Colombia in April, to observe some of the Local Development Planning processes that will be ongoing. So please expect another update in the summer!

Lastly, for those of you expecting a postcard: please be patient. I was not able to find any postcards during my last trip (it appears to be a dying art), but I will make sure to find a way next time!

Hello!

Thank you once again for helping me reach my fundraising goal and supporting my research on the implementation of the gender aspects of the peace agreement in Colombia.

Now that the fundraising is concluded, I am moving full speed with the research. I will be traveling to Colombia for my first research visit at the end of this month, and have a range of exciting activities planned, including:

• A roundtable discussion with national women activists in Bogota
• An interactive full-day workshop with diverse grassroots activists in Popayan, Cauca
• An interactive full-day workshop with women from the government and women political candidates in Popayan, Cauca
• A discussion with students and academics at the Cauca University.

In addition, I hope to interview and engage with a number of key government actors - a first step towards building meaningful relationships that will help make the research impactful.

So, look out to those postcards and further updates next month!

Thank you all so much for your generous contributions! Thanks to your support, I have reached my fundraising goal. This will help me make my research on the peace agreement implementation in Colombia even more inclusive and impactful!

I have confirmed the dates for my first travel in August and September and am finalizing the arrangements for the follow-up trip in November.

During these visits, I will:

💠 Conduct interviews with diverse Colombian peace activists as well as government actors both in Bogota and in Popayan

❇ Organize interactive workshops - one in Bogota and one in Popayan to shape the research and provide me with insights

💠 Participate in events and activities to observe the processes of implementation and cooperation between diverse actors first-hand

❇ Train local researchers so that they can help me collect even more data to inform the analysis!

As you know, my research looks at how gender provisions in peace agreements get implemented - who, when and under what conditions implements them most effectively.

In addition to a doctoral thesis, I plan to produce practical research outputs, which will influence the way peace agreements and implementation «infrastructures» are designed and visibilize the implementation efforts that are not currently recognized - for example, those led by local women.

I am very excited about the research! In the past weeks, the research has taken on a great momentum: ✅ I have conducted online interviews and focus groups with 40 Colombian activists and international actors living in Colombia, to design my methodology in a participatory manner ✅ I have secured a venue for the first interactive workshop in Bogota ✅ I am in touch with 10+ organizations in Cauca, planning to learn more about their work across the department and amplify it!

Look out for your postcards and the research report - coming to you in 2024!

We are more than half way to achieving the campaign goal!

Thank you all for supporting! The project also caught the attention of the WeMakeIt platform and will be featured as «recommended» for the coming week. That’s a great sign as they host thousands of projects and only highlight a handful. Please help me use this momentum by sharing the link within your networks!

A few updates on research preparations:

• I have continued online consultations with Colombian activists - in the past three weeks I spoke to 20 women from 5 different departments. These engagements are helping me design and tailor the methodology in a participatory manner

• I have initiated partnerships with Colombia-based organizations to jointly organize interactive workshops and amplify their impacts

• I am co-writing an article about women in local politics and policy-making in Colombia with two Colombian activists - this will be a first output of the research and something to build on with your support!

Thank you again for supporting me!