With USAID's closure, a right-wing paramilitary group has attempted to fill the void left behind. The Gaitanist Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, or EGC, has its own social programs such as sports activities and parties, as well as jobs in illicit economies like gold mining that has drawn many of the youth previously involved in USAID programming.
Date: 2/26
Region: Latin America & Caribbean
Country: Colombia
Topic: Peacebuilding & Stabilization
Policy Lens: Security & Resilience
Entry Type: Secondary Effect
Additional Context: This quote was collected as part of The Aid Report's original reporting found in the Devex featured article "USAID moves out, gangs move in: The cost of aid cuts in Colombia." Our journalists traced the unraveling of years of prevention work in Colombia to better understand how gangs and armed groups were quick to exploit the vacuum left behind when this work was cancelled.
The EGC is the most powerful armed entity in Chocó, which was designated a terrorist organization by the White House in December 2025. The group operates in both rural and urban areas, profiting from drug trafficking, extortion, and illegal gold mining.
Source: Devex