Business-Led Peacebuilding in Colombia: Fad or Future of a Country in Crisis?

Abstract

This is the final report of a project which focuses on the role played by the Colombian business sector in the context of the peace process. The project asked what motivated business to participate in such initiatives, and what shapes local business preferences for particular peaceful solutions over others. The report first describes some of the main arguments of the recent literature on the relationship between private sector and conflict. Then it outlines the Colombian conflict, in order to provide the needed background for the description and discussion of the four cases in the third section. The fourth section pulls together the motivations driving these particular business -led peacebuilding initiatives. The conclusions focus on the lessons they provide and the challenges they face