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8.4.1 Risaralda, Colombia
In Risaralda, Colombia, priority areas for sustainable development depend largely
on the contexts in which women are immersed. Risaralda is a region located in the
Colombian Andes in South America. This geographical area holds extensive
reserves of gold, silver, and coal. With the escalation of fossil fuel projects, stakeholders in Risaralda have attempted to maximize social benefits for vulnerable
groups, particularly for women. While at the local level stakeholders join efforts to
develop a capacity-building approach that tackles key community issues
(Franco 2014), at the regional level, high priority areas for capacity-building in the
Americas seem to have been identified by stakeholders (Franco et al. 2018). Yet,
priority areas for women in alignment with the SDGs require further attention.
Collaboration for capacity-building for sustainability is characterized by active
community engagement. Despite the escalation of fossil fuel projects, communities,
particularly women’s capacities, have been boosted to cope with existing sustainability challenges. The success in the implementation of priority capacity-building
projects depends on both state and non-state actors. Colombia is a resource country,
experiencing the scalation of large fossil fuel projects. Very often, communities
depend largely on extractive industries, and their development aspirations are usually aligned with resource extraction. The extractive industry in Risaralda has somehow provided communities, particularly women, with capacity-building initiatives.
However, these actions are limited compared to the adverse impacts caused by the
extraction of minerals and metals.
Disruptive industries such as mining, oil, and gas will eventually affect the livelihoods of women in farming, jewelry design, artisanal mining, large-scale mining,
and other economic activities. Women farmers, for example, are choosing artisanal
mining over agriculture (Franco and Kunkel 2017). Research shows that although
women’s expectations have been considered in the implementation of capacitybuilding agendas, stakeholders involved, namely, governments, the private sector,
and education institutions, need to further assist women and surrounding communities in enhancing their capacities to cope with the indiscriminate use of energy
resources. This will in turn have a positive impact on women and overall community
sustainability. Women consultation in relation to their needs and expectations is
highly valued by female leaders, resulting in immediate benefits for them and the
broader community (Franco 2014). Some female coffee and jewelry producers and
women entrepreneurs have already expressed the importance of implementing
capacity- building better aligned with their development aspirations:
We have been trained in jewelry design ... the company has also provided us with some
financial assistance to attend international fairs so that we can promote and sell our products. (Community Members, Interview)
The role of non-state actors such as extractive industries in boosting women’s
capacity to cope with unsustainable energy consumption has been a driver to
enhance resilient women’s and community’s assets. Ensuring sustainable energy
practices does not restrict to the role of the government but also involves other par8 SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
8.4.1 Risaralda, Colombia
In Risaralda, Colombia, priority areas for sustainable development depend largely
on the contexts in which women are immersed. Risaralda is a region located in the
Colombian Andes in South America. This geographical area holds extensive
reserves of gold, silver, and coal. With the escalation of fossil fuel projects, stakeholders in Risaralda have attempted to maximize social benefits for vulnerable
groups, particularly for women. While at the local level stakeholders join efforts to
develop a capacity-building approach that tackles key community issues
(Franco 2014), at the regional level, high priority areas for capacity-building in the
Americas seem to have been identified by stakeholders (Franco et al. 2018). Yet,
priority areas for women in alignment with the SDGs require further attention.
Collaboration for capacity-building for sustainability is characterized by active
community engagement. Despite the escalation of fossil fuel projects, communities,
particularly women’s capacities, have been boosted to cope with existing sustainability challenges. The success in the implementation of priority capacity-building
projects depends on both state and non-state actors. Colombia is a resource country,
experiencing the scalation of large fossil fuel projects. Very often, communities
depend largely on extractive industries, and their development aspirations are usually aligned with resource extraction. The extractive industry in Risaralda has somehow provided communities, particularly women, with capacity-building initiatives.
However, these actions are limited compared to the adverse impacts caused by the
extraction of minerals and metals.
Disruptive industries such as mining, oil, and gas will eventually affect the livelihoods of women in farming, jewelry design, artisanal mining, large-scale mining,
and other economic activities. Women farmers, for example, are choosing artisanal
mining over agriculture (Franco and Kunkel 2017). Research shows that although
women’s expectations have been considered in the implementation of capacitybuilding agendas, stakeholders involved, namely, governments, the private sector,
and education institutions, need to further assist women and surrounding communities in enhancing their capacities to cope with the indiscriminate use of energy
resources. This will in turn have a positive impact on women and overall community
sustainability. Women consultation in relation to their needs and expectations is
highly valued by female leaders, resulting in immediate benefits for them and the
broader community (Franco 2014). Some female coffee and jewelry producers and
women entrepreneurs have already expressed the importance of implementing
capacity- building better aligned with their development aspirations:
We have been trained in jewelry design ... the company has also provided us with some
financial assistance to attend international fairs so that we can promote and sell our products. (Community Members, Interview)
The role of non-state actors such as extractive industries in boosting women’s
capacity to cope with unsustainable energy consumption has been a driver to
enhance resilient women’s and community’s assets. Ensuring sustainable energy
practices does not restrict to the role of the government but also involves other par8 SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy