Colombia

GOAL has been operational in Colombia since 2019, directing its efforts toward a challenging context: The nation is grappling with one of the most severe humanitarian crises of the past decade. Over 9 million people have been affected by the armed conflict, nearly 3 million migrants find themselves in a precarious situation, and more than 1 million people have endured the consequences in the past year. Compounding this scenario is the rapid informal expansion of urban areas and the isolation of rural regions, factors that significantly hinder access for these populations to essential needs such as food, shelter and medical care.

What we do in Colombia

Emergency Response

Sustainable Livelihoods

Gender-based Violence

Supporting communities facing conflict, migration and natural disasters

GOAL is providing support for communities impacted by conflict, migration and natural disasters. In recent years, GOAL Colombia has addressed multiple humanitarian crises, assisting over 470,000 individuals through 15 emergency initiatives across sectors including protection, food security, shelter, livelihoods, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), health and disaster risk reduction.

As of 2026, GOAL is actively addressing a significant flood crisis in Córdoba, concentrating its efforts on facilitating local economic recovery. This dedication to tackling climate and social emergencies is underpinned by a robust history of support. From 2021 to 2025, GOAL supported over 45,000 people affected by strong winds, severe flooding, and armed conflict in Colombia, extending assistance to vulnerable communities in high-impact regions where the restoration of social cohesion for peace is crucial. With the support of the Start Network's Ready to Act programme and the Irish governments development initiative, Irish Aid, GOAL emphasises the direct provision of humanitarian aid.

Supporting Blue and Green economies

Additionally, in 2024, GOAL continued to implement the Resilience of the Blue Economy Programme to support longer-term solutions to the convergence of multiple problems. Armed conflict, climate-related disasters, and mass displacement collided, leaving millions of people in need of assistance, most acutely in rural and border regions. GOAL’s programming is implementing sustainable energy solutions in artisan fishing communities that rely massively on the ocean for their livelihoods.

GOAL is fostering innovation to enhance the livelihoods of artisanal fishers through the Energy Transition for Maritime Transport project. This initiative seeks to lower operating costs and CO2 emissions while establishing public-private partnerships to optimize processes and develop new financial inclusion models for the sector. With financial backing from Irish Aid, local communities are safeguarding their environment and adapting to ecological crises.

Mitigating vulnerability and adapting to climate change

GOAL enhances community capabilities to tackle climate variability. The organiszation has collaborated with around 18,000 community leaders to promote sustainable practices by implementing projects centered on bioadaptive infrastructure, renewable energy, cold chains, and the circular economy.

GOAL continues to implement gender-based violence (GBV) protection into our programming. During humanitarian disasters, displacement and the breakdown of social structures can lead to increased instances of GBV. GOAL teams conducted community workshops on GBV and held awareness sessions with community leaders, families, children, and girls to enhance protective measures.

As a component of the Irish Civil Society Partnership (ICSP) programme ‘For a Better World,’ funded by Irish Aid, GOAL advances women's empowerment in Colombia through an inclusive and equitable participatory framework. This initiative has established essential community spaces for the development of locally tailored workshops focused on human rights, gender-based violence (GBV) prevention, the care economy, and women's leadership. Through this approach, 20,000 women leaders are engaged in the ‘Resilient Women’ strategy, enhancing their community capacities and skills, while GOAL persistently works to elevate the visibility and awareness of GBV in the region.

Collaboration with local communities

The delivery of GOAL’s “From Crisis to Resilience” framework in Colombia addresses the needs and underlying causes of significant regional humanitarian crises associated with food security, health, rapid urban expansion, migration, and other abrupt emergencies instigated by earthquakes and extreme weather phenomena. By fostering sustainable livelihoods, GOAL’s initiatives collaborate with local communities to empower them and assist in the dignified and resilient reconstruction of their lives.

In 2025, GOAL's emergency preparedness initiatives supported over 400,000 people in Colombia by enhancing their resilience to future crises. This was achieved by refining early warning systems (EWS) for climate-related risks and strengthening the capabilities of Civil Defense response teams and other collaborative agencies.

In collaboration with the Irish Government, through Irish Aid, GOAL has supported over 1,400 families within local communities by fostering social cohesion and revitalizing their livelihoods through diverse productive initiatives. This five-year programme has enhanced the economic frameworks of ethnic groups whose primary income sources include artisanal fishing, handicrafts, and sheep and goat farming.

Since 2023, hundreds of fishers have engaged in Ireland’s Civil Society Partnership for A Better World (ICSP) programme, delivered by GOAL, which fosters sustainable livelihoods and food security for their families and communities. In a region historically impacted by armed conflict, these fishermen and women exemplify positive role models for younger generations, imparting ancestral fishing techniques and steering them away from violence. By securing a reliable food source, the ICSP empowers thousands of fishing families to advance in their recovery journey with dignity, resilience, and determination.

In this manner, the programme is converting local economies into pillars of long-term stability, illustrating how productive development can facilitate peace and emphasizing the role of communities in shaping their own futures. Throughout 2025, GOAL’s team in Colombia collaborated with local communities to secure and enhance the livelihoods of over 144,000 people.

GOAL, through humanitarian assistance, serves as a catalyst for recovery, fostering sustainable and inclusive development environments, bolstering economic capacities, and enhancing community governance leadership in peaceful territories.