2020, Volume 3, Issue 3, Pages: 1182-1190
J. Environ. Treat. Tech.
ISSN: 2309-1185
Journal web link: http://www.jett.dormaj.com
https://doi.org/10.47277/JETT/8(3)1190
Entrepreneurship in the Colombia-Ecuador Border
Integration Zone in the Post-Conflict Setting
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2
Martha Lida Solarte Solarte *, Claudia Magali Solarte Solarte
1
Full-Time Research Professor, Corporación Universitaria Minuto de Dios - UNIMINUTO, Pasto, Colombia
2
Full-Time Research Professor at Universidad CESMAG, Pasto, Colombia
Received: 01/06/2020
Accepted: 22/07/2020
Published: 20/09/2020
Abstract
This article is about the urgency of creating and proposing development alternatives to reintegrate former members who belonged
to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) into civilian life. On the occasion of the signing of the peace treaty between
this group and the Colombian government in 2016; also for the victims and territories with the highest incidence of the conflict in the
Colombia-Ecuador border. The general objective was to analyze the forms of productive entrepreneurship as facilitators in the process
of reintegration into the post-agreement period in Colombia taking into account the successful experiences in the creation of
Ecuadorian companies. The methodology used a quantitative approach, analytical empirical method and descriptive research. The tools
to collect information were a survey and an interview; with a sample of 128 reinserted FARC members and 47 Ecuadorian social and
solidarity-based economy organizations. The results come from reinserted FARC members located in the Municipality of Tallambí
(Colombia) and the social and solidarity-based economy organizations in the Canton of Carchi (Ecuador). The information obtained
about directing and entrepreneurship policies came from the two governments (Ecuador and Colombia), and models of creating
companies according to the characteristics found. It can be concluded that the majority of reinserted people are youngsters between the
ages of 26 and 30, that is, in a productive age, willing to train and assume entrepreneurship proposals to continue their reintegration
process and improve their quality of life. This can be possible with the help of the two governments, the social institutions and the
international community.
Keywords: Peace treaty, Social and solidarity based economy, Entrepreneurship, Colombia-Ecuador border, Post-conflict, Reinserted
people
routes and, in general, inadequate infrastructure with little
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Introduction
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innovation, poor associative models and poor training for
work. The conditions mentioned above is the context a person
faces in the process of reintegration, once he leaves the illegal
armed group; a context in which there are a lot of difficulties,
social inequality and economic needs with a permanent threat
of illegal activity such as drug trafficking and emerging illegal
In the Department of Nariño (Colombia), many of the
municipalities have been affected by the armed conflict,
which is still present throughout the country. To solve this
problem, the National Government, after a four-year period of
peace talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
(FARC), decided to sign the peace treaty in 2016. This is
gangs. Therefore, signing the peace treaty presents
a
known as the post-conflict period in which all agreed points
must be implemented. Among these points, it was agreed to
create territorial training and reincorporation spaces known as
significant challenge for both regions and the youth and adult
population in the process of reintegration because they will
need help from the government and public and private entities
focused on education and income generation to promote
productive entrepreneurship and improve their quality of life.
Thus, the canton of Carchi in Ecuador shows a new model
based on the inclusion of social organizations, which come
together to carry out production, consumption and service
activities as the basis of a new entrepreneurship model in the
social and solidarity-based economy sector, this model
includes both Ecuadorian and Colombian migrants who
settled on their territory as victims of the armed conflict. This
research is carried out is in the Municipality of Cumbal,
Tallambí, located in the south of the Department of Nariño,
near Ecuador borderline. According to the Development Plan
in the Municipality of Cumbal 2016-2019, 93% belongs to the
Pastos indigenous group; the remaining 7% is the mestizo
community. According to the census carried out by the
Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística [1-3],
there is a total population of 37,635 inhabitants, 8,428 live in
the urban area and 29,207 in the rural area. This population is
50.08% male and 49.9% female. The economy is based on
agriculture, both people in the process of reintegration and the
espacios territoriales de capacitación y reincorporación
ETCRs) to gather former guerrilla combatants. The armed
(
conflict generated a large number of casualties and internally
displaced people, resulting in the instability of the territories
in terms of economy, social life by, environmental damage
and loss of cultural identity. Many young people who lack of
education, spare time, job opportunities, health services and,
in general, living in extremely poverty were recruited by
armed groups with ideals of change. However, this proved to
be more complex and turned into drug trafficking, kidnapping,
extortion and other crimes that overwhelmed the ideals of the
guerrillas. The Rio Guáitara region, near to Colombia's border
with Ecuador, was immersed in this conflict because there are
several problems such as high levels of unemployment,
informal employment, a subsistence economy, lack of access
Corresponding author: Martha Lida Solarte Solarte, Full-
time Research Professor, Corporación Universitaria Minuto de
Dios UNIMINUTO, Pasto, Colombia. E-mail:
msolartesol@uniminuto.edu.co
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