The purpose of this five-year $61 million program is to improve the socio-economic status of Afro-Colombians and indigenous persons in target areas of Colombia.

Afro-Colombians constitute approximately 1 0. 62 percent of ColombiaÂ’s population of 45 million, and the Colombian government

credit: Team In Focus

legally recognizes 82 indigenous communities who constitute 3. 4 percent of the population.

Both populations are among the most marginalized groups in the country and suffer from exploitation, inequality, poverty, discrimination, racism, exclusion, displacement, violence, massacres, a lack of security, humanitarian crises, feelings of invisibility, and break down in social structures and identity.

While the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Colombia has been working with ethnic minorities for over a decade through its various sectoral programs, this is the first time that a stand alone program is being developed for the sole purpose of improving the lives of Afro-Colombian and indigenous persons.