Social Scientist for Indigenous Peacebuilding in Colombia (f/m/x), Nariño (Ricaurte), Colombia

Within the Civil Peace Service (CPS), we offer professionals the opportunity to engage in meaningful service in collaboration with local development actors.

The Civil Peace Service (CPS) is a programme for violence prevention and peacebuilding in crisis and conflict regions worldwide. In Colombia, CPS has been supporting civil society organisations for many years in developing non‑violent conflict resolution mechanisms, strengthening human rights, and accompanying communities affected by trauma. CPS work is based on partnership, trust, and long‑term commitment. Professionals contribute their expertise, learn from local experience, and help strengthen structures for peaceful coexistence.

Social Scientist for Indigenous Peacebuilding in Colombia (f/m/x), Nariño (Ricaurte), Colombia

Your new role – responsible and challenging

The Misioneras de la Madre Laura (also known as Hermanas Lauritas) are a Colombian Catholic women’s congregation widely recognised for their community‑based social engagement. Their work focuses on supporting populations whose physical, cultural, and spiritual existence is under threat – particularly Indigenous peoples – through grassroots organisational processes, women’s empowerment, and accompaniment of victims and displaced persons affected by armed conflict.

You will be based in the Resguardo Edén Cartagena, near the small town of Ricaurte in rural Nariño. Families of the Awá people who were displaced from their ancestral territories due to armed conflict have rebuilt their lives there. The region is marked by the presence of armed actors and illegal economies. For the Awá community, the consequences are profound: displacement, forced recruitment of youth, weakening of social and organisational structures, and loss of cultural identity. The Hermanas Lauritas have accompanied the community for decades, with two sisters living permanently in the resguardo.

In this context, you will work together with the community to make an important contribution to cultural revitalisation and the strengthening of social structures. Your working environment is tropical and humid, infrastructurally challenging, and characterised by a dynamic security situation. Travel is primarily undertaken during daytime hours and in close coordination with the community, often accompanied by the Guardia Indígena.

You will collaborate closely with the Awá community of Resguardo Edén Cartagena, which is committed to strengthening cultural identity, collective values, territorial autonomy, and the common good. Key areas of cooperation include the strengthening of women’s and youth structures, psychosocial support, educational processes, and non‑violent conflict transformation. There are also close links with Indigenous networks such as URIPAWA, CRIC, and ONIC, as well as with church actors.

At the beginning of your assignment, you will live in the small convent of the Hermanas Lauritas within the resguardo. After the orientation phase, you may move to your own accommodation in the resguardo or in Ricaurte.

Basic medical care is available locally; more advanced services can be accessed in the cities of Pasto and Ipiales.

This position is not suitable for families with children.

Your tasks

• You work alongside the community to analyse their needs, resources, and potentials, and develop a multi‑year work plan based on these findings.
• You design and facilitate intergenerational activities to strengthen cultural identity, family structures, and non‑violent conflict transformation.
• You support capacity‑building processes for traditional authorities, community leaders, and the Guardia Indígena – from developing methodologies to delivering practice‑oriented training.
• In your role with the Hermanas Lauritas, you foster networks and alliances with Indigenous organisations, church actors, civil society, and academic partners, and support advocacy initiatives aimed at strengthening Indigenous rights and autonomy.
• You ensure thorough documentation of learning processes, are responsible for monitoring, and contribute to effective knowledge transfer.
• You accompany and support the Hermanas Lauritas in their internal reorganisation processes.
• You will be responsible for the proper expenditure and management of funds on site in accordance with donor guidelines and AGIAMONDO specifications. In doing so, you will work in partnership with colleagues from the partner organisation.

Your profile

• You hold a university degree in social or political sciences, anthropology, social work, law, or a related field, and bring at least three years of experience in community‑based, participatory work.
• You have sound knowledge of gender‑sensitive, human rights‑based, and intercultural approaches, as well as experience in political participation, lobbying, and advocacy processes.
• You are familiar with the dynamics of armed conflict and have previous experience working with Indigenous communities in Latin America.
• You have strong skills in training design, facilitation, and the systematisation of learning processes.
• You are fluent in Spanish.
• You work empathetically, collaboratively, and with strong communication skills, demonstrating high intercultural sensitivity in engaging with traditional authorities and spiritual practices.
• You demonstrate resilience, strong self‑management, and flexibility to work in a rural context with a dynamic security situation.
• You are an EU or Swiss citizen, identify with Christian values, and are committed to the goals of church‑based development and peace work.

The AGIAMONDO offer

• Individual and comprehensive preparation
• Three-year contract, social security and remuneration in accordance with the Development Workers Act
• Further training in the country, language or other specialist knowledge as well as coaching and supervision, individual advice

Have we aroused your interest? Then apply via our online application portal by 12/07/2026.