The Agency for Reincorporation and Normalization (ARN) plays a central role in the implementation of Colombia’s public policies for the reintegration of ex-combatants into civilian life. With over 20 years of accumulated experience, the ARN has aligned governmental, community and international efforts to build sustainable peace and support the stabilization of territories most affected by the armed conflict.
From its origins as the Colombian Agency for Reintegration (ACR) to the current implementation of the Comprehensive Reincorporation Program (PRI), the ARN has developed innovative models that address reintegration from multiple dimensions: social, economic, community, and political.
Desde la creación de su predecesora, la Agencia Colombiana para la Reintegración (ACR), hasta la consolidación del Programa de Reincorporación Integral (PRI), la ARN ha desarrollado modelos innovadores que abordan la reincorporación desde múltiples dimensiones: social, económica, comunitaria y política.
A comprehensive approach to sustainable peace
This case was one of three key experiences presented during the Learning Route: From Colombia to the World – Lessons Learned and Good Practices for Sustainable and Inclusive Peacebuilding, organized by Procasur, IOM and the Government of Colombia. International delegations learned firsthand about ARN’s work in the former Territorial Spaces for Training and Reincorporation (AETCR) in Tierra Grata (Cesar) and Pondores (La Guajira), where collective reintegration and community self-management have become models of local development and reconciliation.
Highlights of the ARN model
Structured around four pillars (community, social, economic, and political) and 14 thematic areas, the PRI integrates cross-cutting components such as gender, land access, and security.
Through the implementation of Territorial Agendas for Community Reincorporation (ATRC), ARN fosters trust and social cohesion between ex-combatants and host communities in over 100 municipalities.
With 5,960 productive projects approved for over 11,000 signatories and more than 14,700 hectares allocated through partnerships with national land agencies, ARN supports income generation and economic autonomy.
ARN has created the Women’s Route to address gender-based violence, promote female leadership, and develop inclusive strategies for women and LGBTIQ+ signatories.
The National Reincorporation System (SNR), launched in 2024, integrates 40 entities to ensure coordinated services in health, housing, education and employment.
