projects

Sustainable agriculture and social cohesion

Completed
A woman touches a seedling
UNHCR Colombia has developed peri-urban hydroponic gardens for community use, alongside the Bello Oriente Environmental School.
UNHCR/Catalina Betancur
Programme
UNHCR Innovation Incubator
Fund
Environment and Climate Action Innovation Fund | Incubator
Start Date
Total Project Cost
USD 100,000
Country
Colombia
Project Team
UNHCR Colombia , Fundacion Caminos , Universidad de Antioquia

Challenge

Medellin’s periphery has seen an increase in settlements due to waves of displacement from armed conflict and arrival of Venezuelan refugees. The displaced face limited livelihood options and challenges integrating locally, resulting in neighbourhoods with environmental degradation and water pollution.

Solution

UNHCR will establish community hydroponic gardens and employ traditional cultivation methods to grow native organic vegetables for community use with the aim of building bridges between displaced communities for better inclusion and shared livelihoods.

Impact

Improved environmental restoration through dialogue and cooperation, restored environmental health, potential livelihoods creation, and the promotion of environmental knowledge and social cohesion amongst the various refugees, IDPs, returnees and hosts.

Project impact

200
displaced & host community members gained skills in urban agriculture & more
2
hydroponic gardens & seed bank established; managed by community for ongoing production
4
workshops conducted to share traditional & hydroponic growing methods

Other information

The demonstration of hydroponic farming helped communities and local partners test their use, which they aim to replicate at a smaller scale in home gardens. The urban farms are supporting greater food security and alternative sources of income from selling surplus.
 
Find out more about this project in our webstory and in the video below.