Bogota, Colombia

Bogotá, the Capital District, is the capital of Colombia and its political, financial, and cultural centre. Set on a high-altitude plateau in the Andes Mountains, it has a population of 11.8 million in 2025, constituting approximately 22.1% of the total urban population of the country.  Like most countries around the world, Colombia is currently facing major health and ecological challenges that reflect both domestic and international factors and trends. These challenges stem from the impact of industrialization, rapid unplanned urbanization, climate change, and other significant driving forces.

Phase 1 (2020-2024) achievements 

• Secured commitment at the highest level to governance for health and well-being and transition from a traditional health model to one based on the social determinants of health
• Strengthened the Intersectoral District Health Committee (now elevated to a Commission on the Social Determinants of Health and Well-being) through improved coordination with other sectoral structures from the territories
• Empowered representatives of the Local Disabilities Council, people living with disabilities and their caregivers to better articulate their needs and priorities to the local government
• Mobilized USD 1 million from local government budget for the construction of the Interactive Well-being Center for People with Disabilities (CIBILK)
• Improved services from the CIBILK as a result of strengthened participative decision-making processes, benefitting 1,094 people living with disabilities and 868 caregivers.
• In November 2024, Bogotá formally joined the Healthy Municipalities, Cities, and Communities Movement (HMCC) in the Region of the Americas, committing to strengthen local leadership and governance for health and well-being.
• Strengthened social and community participation in the local operational committee on women and gender in the locality of Bosa, through capacity building of social organizations, the local mayor’s office, and institutions.

Phase 2 (2025-2028) priorities

In Phase 2, Bogotá is planning to focus on:

• Continuing to strengthen the District Intersectoral Commission on Social Determinants of Health and Well-being through joint intersectoral planning and implementation to shift the paradigm toward health promotion and social determinants of health;
• Developing and establishing a framework to monitor and evaluate the Commissions’ intersectoral action;
• Continuing to strengthen capacity building on intersectoral action in all phases of the policy cycle;
• Strengthening social and community participation in municipal management;
• Engaging in and sharing knowledge, experiences and good practice through the HMCC network, and beyond.