This project was a collaboration with the National Coordination of Indigenous Women of Colombia (CONAMIC) to create a peace barometer for the Pastos peoples of Nariño and Putumayo. This indigenous group has been deeply affected by violence in the border regions with Ecuador and Peru. Unlike conventional peace barometers designed by experts, this one was built from the ground up with indicators generated directly by local communities.  

We held focus groups with men, women and youth to explore their understanding of peace and collaboratively develop indicators. From the resguardos of Tescual, Panam, Putumayo, Pastos and Mallama, we collected and coded 543 local peace indicators. We then selected 42 of these to test for broader relevance and converted them into survey questions.  

Together with CONAMIC, women representatives conducted 1,621 surveys across 20 indigenous reservations of the Los Pastos people. The data revealed a complex vision of peace that extends beyond security or relations with the state. Communities emphasized peaceful daily relationships—gender dynamics, parent-child bonds and neighborly ties. They called for state support to uphold indigenous rights and provide basic services but also valued their own security institutions like the indigenous guard. Importantly, many indicators reflected their connection to nature, highlighting concerns about sustainable agriculture, damage from aerial coca eradication and waste management as key factors influencing peace.  

Traditional peace barometers often reflect institutional priorities rather than community realities. This project empowered indigenous communities to define what matters most to them, strengthening their voice and recognising the power of their own knowledge in shaping peacebuilding efforts.