CAF and Ombudsman’s Office will collaborate to build technological capacity for human rights in Colombia

With the aim of advancing human rights in Colombia, CAF—development bank of Latin America—and Colombia’s Ombudsman’s Office signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which will combine the experience of both institutions towards this goal.

The main purpose of this MoU is to establish a collaboration program between the Colombian Ombudsman’s Office and CAF to work jointly in the development of cooperation actions, through programs and projects that promote the effectiveness of human rights of children, adolescents, young people, women, ethnic groups, people with disabilities, and the elderly in Colombia.

To this end, work will focus on three main fronts: 1) Modernization of software to address and process complaints, which is set to improve and ensure information from different sources is captured accurately, including complaints and petitions submitted by any individual to the agency. 2) The use and appropriation of technology processes by the officers of the Ombudsman’s Office, to help them use the available digital tools and leverage them with a view to obtaining better results in their work. 3) Developing actions aimed at knowledge management in order to promote the effectiveness of human rights.

The Memorandum was signed by CAF Executive President Sergio Díaz-Granados and Colombia’s Ombudsman Carlos Camargo Assis. CAF’s Executive president noted: “This Memorandum is aligned with the SDGs on strategic issues such as fostering more inclusive societies and reinforcing partnerships that improve quality of life, and especially with our mission to promote social development, this time through the effectiveness of human rights with the digital transition, which will help us offer better social services, cybersecurity and provide best practices for the rest of the region, such as early warnings. Thus, we are very happy about this partnership with the Ombudsman’s Office of Colombia.”

In addition, Ombudsman Carlos Camargo Assis said: “This agreement will help us focus on the expansion of the technological capabilities we already have, strengthen the work of our human talent and expand our coverage of services to citizens. We wish to optimize the institutional response when it comes to advancing and protecting human rights.” Similarly, the Ombudsman assured that “the signing of this agreement with CAF helps us strengthen our common will, reinforce our ties of trust and collaboration, enhance human rights through efficient project management, with a focus on the most vulnerable groups and the environment.”

Similarly, the Ombudsman assured that “the signing of this agreement with CAF helps us strengthen our common will, reinforce our ties of trust and collaboration, enhance human rights through efficient project management, with a focus on the most vulnerable groups and the environment.”

The main themes of the agreement include: 1) Training for enhancing human rights through project management and public policy tools.

2) Exchange of successful experiences of regional Ombudsman’s Offices in methodologies and information strategies on the follow-up to and support of social conflicts, the conflict early warning system and the systematization of information.

3) Support to the digital strategy on management, leadership and project management courses.

4) Creation of training programs for officers at the Ombudsman’s Office.

5) Development of systematization of strategies and joint actions.