Colombia Hosts Workshop on Human Mobility in the Context of Disasters and Climate Change

The workshop featured interactive sessions, expert presentations, and collaborative discussions. Participants discussed and analyzed public policies, data and evidence, and case studies on human mobility in the context of disaster and climate change, identifying effective practices and existing gaps and challenges.

The workshop provided a platform for stakeholders to share knowledge, provide inputs and offer guidance regarding the design of effective public instruments on human mobility in the context of disasters and climate change. These instruments are crucial for preventing, reducing, and managing disaster displacement and addressing the impacts of adverse climate change effects.

“At the Department of National Planning (DNP) we want to open an honest agenda with experiences, point out what is working, what is not, including issues of governance, financing and transparency of information to reach real solutions and make bold decisions to formulate real public policies,” said Ms. Carolina Díaz G, Director of Environment and Sustainable Development, DNP.

Participants identified three priority areas for the development of public policies on disaster and climate-related human mobility, including:

• Knowledge management, enhancing understanding and data collection
• Developing strategies around prevention, preparation and adaptation
• Ensuring a comprehensive response to address the protection needs of individuals and communities impacted by human mobility in the context of disasters and climate change.

Participants also emphasized that public policies should respect and promote human rights, recognize and address intersectional vulnerabilities, facilitate and ensure community participation, and address both immediate and long-term impacts of human mobility in the context of climate change.

The workshop contributed to a better understanding of the current state of public policies and knowledge regarding disaster and climate-related displacement in Colombia. A range of stakeholders provided valuable contributions regarding the design of public policy instruments to effectively address human mobility in the context of disasters and climate change, and strategic priorities and areas for policy development were identified in line with national development goals.

This workshop marks a significant step towards the development of comprehensive policies to protect people on the move in the context of disasters and climate change.