Corporate Strategies to Assist Post-Conflict Peacebuilding in Colombia

The report examines the strategies of Colombian businesses during the transition from armed conflict to peace, based on 53 interviews with business leaders. It finds that while many firms viewed the formal end of the FARC conflict as having little impact on their specific operations—often because they had already adapted to security gains between 2005 and 2014 or operated in urban areas—a minority of firms actively pursued new markets in previously off-limit territories. The study highlights that corporate engagement is heavily influenced by CEO leadership, sectoral and regional variations, and the availability of state incentives and risk-sharing mechanisms. It concludes that the 'logic of the firm' varies significantly, with some companies viewing peace as a long-term investment opportunity while others remain skeptical due to slow implementation and continuing insecurity.

• For the majority of interviewed firms, the formal 2016 peace agreement with FARC did not fundamentally alter their strategic calculations or economic outlook, as many had already benefited from security improvements between 2005 and 2014 or were based in urban centers where the conflict was less impactful.
• A minority of companies have actively leveraged the transition to explore new markets in previously inaccessible territories or sectors, or to expand social investment, often supported by motivated CEOs and state incentives.
• Many larger national firms have adopted a long-term strategic approach, reframing their perception of risk to view peace negotiations as an opportunity for investments that were previously considered high-risk and low-reward.
• Companies have used improved security to restart or initiate operations in rural areas, particularly in the tourism, public transport, and extractive sectors, though financial returns may take years to materialize.
• To mitigate security and financial risks in conflict-affected regions, businesses frequently operate in alliance with state authorities and international agencies, utilizing incentives such as the 'Public Works for Taxes' (Obras por impuestos) scheme.
• Corporate strategies vary significantly by sector and region; for instance, extractive and agricultural firms are more attuned to peace opportunities than urban firms, while some regions like the Pacific coast remain high-risk due to drug-trade criminal organizations.
• The endorsement and promotion of peacebuilding strategies by CEOs and corporate boards are essential for their effective implementation, with charismatic leaders often creating a demonstration effect for other firms.
• The business community expressed general optimism about the peace agreement but remained skeptical regarding the pace of implementation and the potential legal responsibility of 'third parties' for human rights violations.

APA

Medina, D., Miklian, J., & Rettberg, A. (2018). Corporate Strategies to Assist Post-Conflict Peacebuilding in Colombia. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/f47c0173-39c0-49e3-8b50-c62eb6d14757/Rettberg et al Corporate Strategies to Assist Post-Conflict Peacebuilding in Colombia - PRIO Paper 2019.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Medina, Daniel, Jason Miklian, and Angelika Rettberg. Corporate Strategies to Assist Post-Conflict Peacebuilding in Colombia. Peace Research Institute Oslo, 2018. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/f47c0173-39c0-49e3-8b50-c62eb6d14757/Rettberg et al Corporate Strategies to Assist Post-Conflict Peacebuilding in Colombia - PRIO Paper 2019.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Medina |first1=Daniel |last2=Miklian |first2=Jason |last3=Rettberg |first3=Angelika |title=Corporate Strategies to Assist Post-Conflict Peacebuilding in Colombia |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |date=2018 |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/f47c0173-39c0-49e3-8b50-c62eb6d14757/Rettberg et al Corporate Strategies to Assist Post-Conflict Peacebuilding in Colombia - PRIO Paper 2019.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{medina2018corporate, author = {Medina, Daniel and Miklian, Jason and Rettberg, Angelika}, title = {{Corporate Strategies to Assist Post-Conflict Peacebuilding in Colombia}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, year = {2018}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/f47c0173-39c0-49e3-8b50-c62eb6d14757/Rettberg et al Corporate Strategies to Assist Post-Conflict Peacebuilding in Colombia - PRIO Paper 2019.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }