Colombia to Use $18 Million USD Loan to Strengthen Governmental Ombudsman Office

Colombia secured an $18 million USD loan last month to improve the governmental ombudsman’s office, which is known as the Defensoría del Pueblo (DPC).

Photo: Colombian President Iván Duque (far left) meets with Defensoría del Pueblo head Carlos Negret and the DPC staff. (Photo credit: Defensoría del Pueblo / DPC)

The loan, which was provided by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), will be used to procure new technology tools (including a “visualization and geo-referencing platform”), create new management models, and generally advance the quality of citizen services, according to the Washington-based development bank.

“The program’s main beneficiaries will be the citizens, through a better response from public and private service providers,” said IDB in a statement. “Likewise, vulnerable populations will benefit from expanded offerings, better services, and specialized assistance from the DPC.”

The loan has 25-year term has a LIBOR-based interest rate with a grace period of 5.5 years.

New Colombian President Iván Duque called the Defensoría del Pueblo “one of the most important institutions in our country” during a meeting with DPC head Carlos Alfonso Negret and his staff late last month before taking office.

“We are going to work together to prevent the murder of social leaders, to work for indigenous communities and campesinos, and for there to not more violations of human rights in Colombia,” said Negret after the meeting.