Call for Expression of Interest: Guajira Mangroves Project Proposal in Colombia
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The World Food Programme is extending an invitation for partnership through the Guajira Mangroves Project, an initiative that seeks to combine ecological restoration with improved livelihoods and food security in one of Colombia’s most vulnerable regions.
The project is rooted in the agency’s mandate to fight hunger and malnutrition while promoting environmental sustainability, resilience, and peace. It builds on the organization’s country strategy for 2025–2028, which emphasizes crisis preparedness, social protection, climate adaptation, and inclusive food systems.
The department of La Guajira faces severe environmental and socio-economic challenges, worsened by deforestation, poor land use, and the impacts of climate change. The lower Ranchería River basin, where the project is focused, is home to diverse indigenous groups such as the Wayuu, Wiwa, Yukpa, Kogui, and Arhuacos, alongside Afro-descendant and campesino populations. In this region, mangroves and other ecosystems are under threat, water resources are dwindling, and communities struggle with fragile livelihoods. The initiative responds directly to these pressing challenges by prioritizing restoration and resilience.
The project aims to implement nature-based solutions, restore degraded ecosystems, and strengthen the management of water resources in the basin. At the same time, it will invest in building resilient and sustainable livelihoods, promoting food security and autonomy for local families. A strong focus will be placed on women, recognizing their role as knowledge keepers, community leaders, and vital actors in the care of biodiversity. Their empowerment and participation in decision-making will be central to ensuring long-term impact.
The chosen partner will be responsible for carrying out preparatory and diagnostic activities, including detailed work plans, consultations with the community of El Pasito, and the documentation of free, prior, and informed consent. Beneficiary registration, socio-economic characterization, and baseline assessments of the mangrove ecosystem will form the foundation for action. Mapping stakeholders and identifying potential restoration areas will also be critical steps in shaping effective interventions.
This call for expression of interest represents an opportunity to contribute to the conservation of strategic ecosystems while directly improving the lives of 160 prioritized families. By aligning ecological restoration with sustainable livelihoods and community resilience, the Guajira Mangroves Project seeks to offer a model of integrated development that tackles hunger, poverty, and climate vulnerability in one of Colombia’s most fragile landscapes.
