Spatial Planning for Resilient Economic Diversification: La Guajira, Colombia (International Development in Focus)

As the world moves away from fossil fuels, mining-dependent regions that once provided the foundation for employment and economic growth face the prospect of postmining economic shock and social upheaval. Economic diversification of these regions is a huge challenge that must be addressed if they are to transition to a sustainable growth path. Spatial Planning for Resilient Economic Diversification: La Guajira, Colombia, describes how strategic spatial planning can generate insights into the opportunities and constraints in mining-dependent regions and develop multisectoral plans for resilient and sustainable economies. This planning approach has been used in a wide range of mining-related contexts and focuses on identifying and exploiting intersectoral synergies that offer large-scale employment and economic benefits. The report features a recent spatial planning exercise commissioned by the Cerrejón coal mine in La Guajira, with additional illustrations from recent applications of the same type of planning approach in Africa. The case in La Guajira is striking. The local economy is heavily dependent on the Cerrejón mine, one of the world’s largest coal-mining operations, while most of the population relies on subsistence agriculture. With its high levels of poverty, harsh environment, and complex social dynamics, La Guajira faces enormous challenges. Yet the planning work reveals high-potential opportunities in renewable energy, agricultural development, tourism, and a variety of other sectors. The report offers a methodology for data-led development planning for policy makers, policy advisers, donors, and the private sector on a range of topics including shared value creation, collaborative development planning, planning for mine closure and postclosure, and planning for a low-carbon economy.