Food security and rural development in 5 municipalities of the department of Caquetá, Colombia, 2018-2022

The Department of Caquetá is located in the Amazon region of the Colombian state. Since its creation in the 19th century, it has been neglected by institutions, which has contributed, among other variables, to socio-economic and socio-environmental problems that have increased with the incursion of coca cultivation. Quantitative data on competitiveness and poverty reduction are among the lowest among the other departments of the South American country. Therefore, the general objective of the article was to characterize the results of the intervention of a pro-ject carried out by Pastoral Social Caritas Colombia and Caritas Norway in 5 municipalities of the department in the period 2018-2022 to develop food sovereignty and security in 400 farming families. The methodology, methods, and instruments are based on the Theory of Change and MEAL: Monitoring, Evaluating, All Counts and Learning used by Pastoral Social Caritas Colombia. The main conclusion is that the project's contribution to civil society focuses on strengthening organizations to enable them to move forward in spaces that can transform productivity and the recognition of rights by the department's population.