ABSTRACT
This essay compares the internal dynamics of two displaced Colombian towns, Mampuján and Las Brisas, during a reparations process and their interactions and relationships with Colombian NGO Sembrandopaz. Based on the author’s experiences working with Sembrandopaz and living in Mampuján, this essay examines the role of development practitioners in ‘accompanying’ or supporting displaced peoples as they advocate for their own rights and development. It argues for an accompaniment model of development practice, while also recognizing the tendency of this model to marginalize more disorganized communities.
