The World Food Programme (WFP) is seeking a partner to develop a community-based ethnotourism model in the lower Ranchería River basin of La Guajira, Colombia. The initiative aims to strengthen cultural, environmental, and inclusive tourism to support Wayuu livelihoods and improve food security. The selected partner will design, implement, and document a comprehensive plan for community engagement, river restoration, and sustainable tourism development.

WFP Partnership Opportunity: Community-Based Ethnotourism in La Guajira, Colombia

Overview

The World Food Programme is launching an initiative to build a community-centered ethnotourism model in the lower Ranchería River basin, focusing on the Wayuu Indigenous communities. The project seeks to integrate cultural preservation, environmental restoration, and inclusive economic development to strengthen food security and community resilience.

The initiative’s location—La Guajira, Colombia—holds unique cultural and ecological significance. The Wayuu people maintain ancestral traditions, deep river-based knowledge, and natural landscapes that are key assets for sustainable tourism.

Project Goal

To develop a culturally grounded and environmentally responsible ethnotourism model that improves local livelihoods, enhances food security, and preserves Wayuu traditions while restoring essential river ecosystems.

Funding Allocation

The project has a dedicated budget of 322,617,500, supporting all planning, community engagement, fieldwork, and reporting activities required.

Why This Project Matters

This initiative addresses multiple development priorities:

Cultural Preservation: Protect and promote Wayuu traditions.
Economic Inclusion: Create community-controlled tourism income pathways.
Environmental Restoration: Improve river navigability and ecological health.
Food Security: Strengthen household resilience through diversified livelihoods.
Community Ownership: Ensure full participation and consent from Indigenous groups.

By integrating tourism with environmental and cultural stewardship, the project creates long-term, sustainable impact.

Key Responsibilities of the Selected Partner

1. Design and Implement a Comprehensive Work Plan

The partner must deliver a structured plan that outlines:

Methodologies and tools for project implementation
Community capacity-building strategies
Systems for technical and social assistance
Timelines aligned with WFP requirements
Indicators for measuring community progress

2. Ensure Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC)

The partner must:

Establish formal agreements with the participating Wayuu communities
Follow WFP FPIC guidelines rigorously
Coordinate with local authorities and regional institutions
Document the entire consent process to ensure transparency and accountability

3. Conduct Registration and Socioeconomic Profiling

Activities include:

Identifying beneficiary families and individuals
Collecting detailed household socioeconomic data
Establishing a baseline for participation and vulnerability analysis

This step enables accurate monitoring, evaluation, and equitable participation.

4. Perform a Technical and Participatory Ethnotourism Assessment

The partner will assess areas in the “Riito” branch of the Ranchería River Delta, focusing on:

Locations with ethnotourism potential
Culturally significant sites
Environmentally degraded segments affecting river navigation
Opportunities for river-route tourism
Community priorities and environmental challenges

Findings will determine where restoration and tourism infrastructure are most needed.

5. Coordinate Community-Led River Restoration

Restoration must target five vulnerable points along the Riito river channel. Activities include:

Vegetation clearing
Pruning and maintenance
Removal of obstruction-causing plants
Riverbank cleaning
Ecological rehabilitation

These efforts will be conducted with institutional partners such as:

La Guajira Governorate
National Army of Colombia
Corpoguajira
Risk Management Office
Additional regional stakeholders

Restoration improves water flow, safety, and the viability of river-based ethnotourism.

6. Identify and Document Additional Ethnotourism Access Points

The partner must:

Map potential landing areas or access routes
Georeference each site
Assess cultural, environmental, and logistical suitability
Integrate all findings into a final technical report

This ensures long-term planning, scalable tourism routes, and infrastructure development.

How the Work Will Be Structured

Step-by-Step Process

Initial Coordination: Engage Wayuu leadership, municipal authorities, and WFP.
FPIC Procedures: Formalize agreements with communities.
Baseline Assessments: Register participants and gather socioeconomic data.
Field Diagnostics: Conduct participatory assessments along the Riito channel.
Restoration Phase: Implement community-led river restoration at five points.
Tourism Site Identification: Evaluate and map additional access points.
Capacity Building: Train communities in tourism management, environmental practices, and organizational skills.
Final Reporting: Produce a complete technical and georeferenced report for WFP.

Common Challenges and Tips for Success

Underestimating FPIC Requirements: Clear consent processes are non-negotiable.
Weak Community Engagement: Success depends on Wayuu leadership involvement at every stage.
Incomplete Georeferencing: Tourism planning requires precise mapping; ensure accuracy.
Poor Coordination with Authorities: Institutional partners are essential for restoration activities.
Lack of Cultural Sensitivity: Ethnotourism must reflect Wayuu customs authentically.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the main purpose of the initiative?

To develop a sustainable ethnotourism model that enhances Wayuu livelihoods, improves food security, and restores river ecosystems.

2. Which communities are involved?

Wayuu Indigenous communities in the lower Ranchería River basin, especially around the Riito branch.

3. What is the funding amount?

The project allocates 322,617,500 for all implementation tasks.

4. What are the partner’s core responsibilities?

Designing the project plan, securing FPIC, conducting assessments, leading restoration, building community capacity, and delivering technical reports.

5. What environmental activities are required?

Restoration of five vulnerable points along the Riito river channel, including cleaning, pruning, and ecological maintenance.

6. Will the partner work alone?

No. Collaboration with regional institutions (e.g., Governorate, National Army, Corpoguajira) is required.

7. What is the expected final output?

A comprehensive technical report with mapped sites, georeferenced data, community agreements, and a complete record of restoration and tourism development opportunities.

Conclusion

This WFP initiative presents a major opportunity to combine cultural preservation, ecological restoration, and economic development for the Wayuu communities of La Guajira. By building a sustainable ethnotourism model grounded in Indigenous knowledge and environmental stewardship, the selected partner will play a pivotal role in strengthening food security and long-term community resilience. If you want, I can also produce a schema markup, press-release version, or summary brief of this article.