Bogotá strengthens its inclusive policies through a partnership with France

Translated by Andrés Martínez Forero

In Bogotá, My City, My Home, international cooperation changes lives! Strengthening the way a city makes decisions can be just as transformative as financing major projects. Guided by this vision, on May 13, the Office of the Mayor of Bogotá and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) presented the results of a strategic partnership that has strengthened key capacities to expand the reach of the city’s care, inclusion, and circular economy policies.

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During the presentation, Bogotá ’s Secretary for Women, Laura Tami, stated: “In Bogotá, we are showing that care policies can be transformed when they are strengthened by data, innovation, and international partnerships. Thanks to this cooperation, we have improved our capacity to make decisions, expand the reach of Bogotá’s Care System, and move toward a city where equality, inclusion, and women’s autonomy become a reality.”

This cooperation is rooted in a shared belief: when a city improves the way it makes decisions, it also expands its ability to transform lives. That is why, beyond financing, this partnership has helped strengthen tools, methodologies, and technical capacities that now remain within city institutions, helping public policies work better, reach more people, and adapt to new challenges.

The process was developed through a public policy loan of COP 645 billion, approximately €150 million, aimed at strengthening Bogotá’s financial sustainability, along with COP 1.72 billion, or €400,000, in technical assistance. This technical component made it possible to translate cooperation into concrete capacities for three strategic city agendas: the Care System, circular economy with a gender perspective, and LGBTI inclusion.

1. Technology and data for the Care System: Through the Secretariat for Women, the technical assistance helped optimize the InfoCuidado platform, strengthening Bogotá’s capacity to monitor information in real time and improve decision-making. With this technical capacity in place, the city has consolidated 27 fully operational Care Blocks and recorded more than 1.3 million services delivered under the highest international standards.
2. New methodologies for a circular economy with a gender perspective: Through its joint work with AFD, the Special Administrative Unit of Public Services (UAESP) structured a new waste management model. This methodology now supports 26,000 recyclers, 42.6% of whom are women heads of household. The transfer of capacities helped dignify this work, strengthening the operations of 96 recycler organizations, 54% of them led by women, and providing technical training to 1,320 women workers in recycling and recovery processes.
3. Institutional tools for LGBTI inclusion: This cooperation made it possible to develop institutional tools aimed at reducing barriers and strengthening rights protections.Through the Secretariat of Planning (SDP), calls for participation were launched under the cultural change strategy “En Bogotá Se Puede Ser”; a specialized legal representation protocol was developed for victims of violence motivated by prejudice and discrimination; and a technical study was conducted on the Gender Clinic at Chapinero Hospital, a pioneering facility in the care of trans and non-binary people.

Learn more about this event in the following post on X by Bogotá’s District Office for International Relations:

🇨🇴I🇫🇷 Gracias a @AFD_es y a @France_Colombia por acompañar una cooperación que fortalece capacidades públicas y aporta a proyectos que mejoran la vida en las comunidades. #AquíSíPasa
🧵⬇️ pic.twitter.com/SsptjfUbmL

— Relaciones Internacionales Bogotá (@BogotaInter_nal) May 13, 2026

“Our commitment has been to support Bogotá in building and strengthening tools and capacities that endure over time. Initiatives such as InfoCuidado and circular economy models show how, when decisions are supported by data and solid methodologies, it is possible to make sustained progress toward a more inclusive city,” said Simón Mesa, project officer for AFD’s urban division.

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The conclusion of this technical phase reaffirms the value of a long-term partnership between Bogotá and France, focused on strengthening public capacity and supporting processes that remain in the city. This partnership shows how cooperation can become lasting institutional knowledge, lead to better public decision-making, and help policies evolve through local leadership.

*This article was created using information provided by the Bogotá’s International Relations Office and curated by a journalist from Portal Bogotá. For suggestions, questions, or more information, visit Bogotá Te Escucha: https://bogota.gov.co/sdqs/