During decades of armed conflict in Colombia, state abandonment was a major factor in violence that impacted many communities. The 2016 peace agreement recognises the need for infrastructural development, investment and provision of services to tackle the roots of conflict and bring about a stable and lasting peace. The creation of Territorial Focus Development Programmes, known as PDETs, aims to transform conditions in 170 municipalities and improve the lives of those who reside there.
In an important advance for the peace process, the Colombian congress last November approved a bill to extend the duration of the PDETs by ten years, to 2037. On 12 February 2026, President Gustavo Petro signed the bill into law, thereby ensuring the provision of resources and funding for PDETs continues under future governments.
Signed in November 2016 between the then-government and the FARC guerrillas, the peace agreement prioritises ‘Comprehensive Rural Reform’ as its first chapter. A lack of institutional state presence allowed armed groups to gain a foothold in many regions and, in some cases such as with the FARC, provide the services and security that was previously absent. State abandonment exacerbated a lack of opportunities amid poor economic and social conditions that fuelled illicit activity and saw armed groups grow in strength.
Since the signing of the agreement, the developmental programmes have experienced significant delays as previous governments, particularly the hard-right Iván Duque administration (2018-22), neglected the state’s obligations to the agreement. As such, the promised investment was slow to materialise, while power vacuums created by the FARC’s withdrawal and authorities’ failure to occupy these territories saw rival armed groups competing for control, with the resulting violence taking a heavy toll on the same communities long impacted by armed conflict.
Under Petro, implementation of the PDETs has accelerated, with the United Nations among those welcoming the renewed focus. This has meant developing sustainable and essential services such as healthcare, education and transport infrastructure, strengthening local economies and providing technical support where needed. Expansive land distribution and land formalisation have benefitted rural communities previously struggling for daily subsistence.
According to the Agency for Territorial Renovation (ART), the governing body that oversees the PDETs, the current government has provided 40 per cent of the total resources allocated for the programmes. This has contributed to a substantial fall in levels of structural poverty in the 170 municipalities, from 39.8 per cent in 2018 to 24.4 per cent in 2024. During the same period, the disparity in poverty levels between PDET zones and the national average fell from 20.7 per cent to 12.9 per cent.
Around six million people inhabit PDET-designated municipalities, where many still face harsh living conditions related to historic conflict and inequality. PDET strategies have been coordinated through dialogue between authorities and local communities, leading to the ambitious proposal of over 33,000 PDET initiatives. With the programmes now in place for another ten years, the benefits of the peace process will continue to reach those regions where they will be most keenly felt.