Local justice and security programming in selected neighborhoods in Colombia

The Clingendael Conflict Research Unit examines the role of non-state security and justice providers and the options for donors to support their services as part of broader SSR programming. This case study focuses on Colombia, where local actors such as Justices of the Peace and Community Development Boards often provide services of justice and security to local neighbourhoods. Effectively, the state has delegated the authority to do so to them and in a situation where large parts of the population do not trust the state and have no access to formal structures that provide justice and security, these local actors are an important ingredient for the day-to-day provision of justice and security.

This report investigates the role of these types of actors in Colombia, and argues that while support to centralized institutions is important, programming aiming to improve justice and security needs to take into account the crucial role played by local actors. It discusses the set-up and activities of these actors, their linkages with the state, and the opportunities and risks as well as entry-points and programmatic alternatives for donors to support them.