ACF International Network
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Action Against Hunger has developed its water and sanitation expertise over nearly three decades of field work, advancing a number of solutions for populations at risk from water insecurity.
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Central to the targeting of malnutrition, Action Against Hunger extends water and sanitation improvements to communities with little or no access to proper sources.
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Action Against Hunger's programs are sustainable because of our commitment to community participation—to build local capacity and harnesses a population's energy and resources.
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Though strategies may vary, our food security interventions all share a common goal: to fight hunger by preserving and strengthening livelihoods in a sustainable and contextual manner.
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Action Against Hunger’s innovative food security programs offer a broad range of solutions for generating income, boosting food production, and strengthening livelihoods.
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Our comprehensive approach to hunger involves extending water and sanitation services to communities faced with water scarcity, unsafe drinking water, and inadequate sanitation.
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Action Against Hunger occupies a unique place among international organizations: our expertise encompasses emergency relief, longer-term development, and the terrain in between.
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We have developed an effective method to treat acute malnutrition that includes field-tested protocols and nutritional products backed by an international scientific advisory committee.
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Action Against Hunger helps rehabilitate and restock public health infrastructure, fields mobile health clinics, and trains local medical personnel on preventative and diagnostic care.
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Our comprehensive programs address the linkages between disease and malnutrition by coordinating with local expertise and strengthening existing public health systems.
ACF International Map
Where We Work

Colombia
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ACF has been working to meet the basic needs of the families displaced or affected by the violence that has blighted the nation since 1998. Although the country is rich in natural resources, 64 percent of the population lives in poverty and needs assistance in terms of nutrition, food security, and water--the three priority programs of ACF there.

Program Information

Directing HQ: 
Action Against Hunger - Spain
Launch Date: 
January 1998
World Region: 
Americas
Location(s): 
Atlantic coast (César, Magdalena, Sucre, Guajira and Córdoba districts) and southern part of the country (Putumayo District)
Expatriates: 
3
Local Staff: 
42
Beneficiaries: 
18,000people
Funding: 
ECHO, Swiss Cooperation, European Commission, private donors (BBVA and others) and Acción Contra el Hambre

Humanitarian Context

  • After more than 30 years, Colombia is still suffering from armed conflict between various actors: the state, guerrilla soldiers from the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC), and paramilitaries from the United Self-Defences of Colombia (AUC).
  • The geographical dimension and prolonged nature of the conflict have caused mass displacement (an estimated 2.5 million displaced people) as a result of the violence.
  • The confluence of conflict over land ownership and drugs trafficking (170,000 hectares of coca plantations) feed the conflict.
  • Low state presence in numerous areas of the country and, at times, lack of political will, favour impunity for the perpetrators of human rights abuses and lessen the capacity to provide assistance to displaced or isolated populations.
  • Civilians are the main victims of this situation and become the target of different actors in the conflict. In addition, the food security situation of the populations is precarious.
  • On top of all of this, there is an economic crisis: 15.3% of the population is unemployed and 35.1% underemployed. 64% of the population (82.6% in rural areas) is living in poverty. There are more than 3.5 million children without education. 20% of the richest homes enjoy 52% of the country's income and 53% of the land is held by 1.08% of landowners.
  • Action Against Hunger observes the systematic violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law with concern, with attacks against civilians and reduced humanitarian space to support civilians.

Area(s) of Work

Food Security: 
  • Community kitchens and canteens for displaced people
  • Creation of productive pedagogic school farms
  • Creation or reactivation of agricultural cooperatives
  • Support to revenue-generating activities
  • Monitoring of the alimentary nutritional situation
Water & Sanitation: 
  • Building and rehabilitation of wells, water tanks and aqueducts at a school and community level
  • Construction of home latrines
  • Building or rehabilitation of community and school sanitation infrastructures
  • Rehabilitation of rural drainage networks and solid waste management
  • Monitoring of water quality (bacteriological and physicochemical)
  • Creation and strengthening of water committees
  • Training in water management and sanitation systems
Health: 
  • Monitoring of basic health indicators
  • Vaccination campaigns, parasite treatments and supplements with micronutrients
  • Training of community health agents
  • Training in nutrition
  • Psychosocial assessment and support
  • Building of temporary homes and basic home rehabilitation