Local pathways to phase out coal (CoL-JT)
Coal mining has created ecological, economic and social impacts and dependencies in Colombia. To address these challenges, civil society and academia have started to initiate smaller rounds of just transition (JT) dialogue, but further support regarding capacities and financial resources is needed. The project generates knowledge, builds capacities, implements an agri-eco-voltaic pilot, and installs multi-stakeholder dialogue processes. It puts a dedicated focus on women and marginalised communities. Jointly, these activities will contribute to the bottom-up co-creation of an overarching just transition vision beyond coal. The project is a pilot and its effects can multiply to other coal regions in Colombia and other countries facing similar transitions.
- Countries
- Colombia
- IKI funding
- 728,177.48 €
- Duration
- 03/2025 till 08/2028
- Status
- open
- Implementing organisation
- European University of Flensburg
- Implementing Partner
-
- Center of Studies for Social Justice Tierra Digna
State of implementation/results
- Through its activities, the project is helping to build local economic cycles and to identify alternative economic sectors that could replace work in the coal mines in the long term. Particular emphasis is placed on women whose informal or coal-adjacent work in the shadow of the mining industry often leaves them with little chance of receiving even the already meagre compensation available.
- In the long term, a bottom-up vision is being developed in collaboration with various stakeholders in the departments of Cesar and Magdalena. The first meeting to this end took place in June 2026.
- As part of the field analysis, an initial video has been produced featuring interviews with female social leaders in the communities, sharing their thoughts and perspectives on just transition. Furthermore, educational material and two workshops on developing business ideas have been created and conducted in May 2026.
- Since March 2026, the project is working with the Fundación Mujeres Innovando Desarrollo (FMID) in the community of La Jagua de Ibirico, on the outskirts of a coal mine in Cesar. The foundation specialises in agro-industrial transformation, thereby creating its own small-scale economic structures within the community. FMID focuses in particular on the cultivation of oranges, aubergines, pineapples and guavas as well as further processing stages in order to offer a wider range of products. Together with a technical partner, and members of the foundation we are currently developing an agri-photovoltaic system to optimise these ongoing processes by providing a stable supply of cheap electricity.
- Initial outreach to communities in Colombia’s coal regions has also been undertaken in early 2026 to establish first contacts and prepare for their active engagement throughout the project. In parallel, the project team engaged in exchanges with other ongoing and upcoming IKI projects to identify synergies, foster collaboration, and avoid duplication of efforts.
- Until September 2025: In its first six months, the project concentrated on building the institutional and operational foundations for implementation. Contracts with the local partner organization Tierra Digna were finalized, providing the basis to recruit qualified staff in both Colombia and at Europa-Universität Flensburg. This ensured that research activities and community engagement could proceed in a structured and sustainable way.
Latest Update:
11/2026
Project relations
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