Barranquilla+20 Foundation was founded in 2012 by Xiomara Acevedo to advance climate justice, biodiversity conservation, water governance, and territorial rights across Colombia and Latin America.
We are a youth-led, feminist non-governmental organization working alongside rural communities, Afro-descendant and Indigenous peoples, coastal territories, young people, and women — promoting equity, civic participation, environmental education, and community leadership.
Over more than a decade of work, we have developed emblematic initiatives such as MallorquínVIVE and Low Carbon Schools, led global advocacy efforts, and engaged in key international processes including COP16, COP27, and COP30.
We are agents of change, advocates for life — convinced that communities are at the heart of transformation.
(ED), a legal certification that confirms that we operate with the same standards of
a 501(c)(3) of EE. UU., reaffirming our role as a reliable ally
in climate action and gender justice at the international level
We advance climate justice through the defense of water, the protection of biodiversity, and the strengthening of local knowledge systems, with a clear focus on the leadership of women, youth, and children.
We work alongside women leaders and communities to foster intergenerational equity, gender equality, and territorial advocacy, contributing to the transition toward resilient, low-emission territories.
We build national and international partnerships to amplify transformative actions that integrate environmental sustainability, social justice, and women’s rights.
To contribute, alongside international networks, to the structural transformation of development models toward just, regenerative, and climate-equitable systems, where women, youth, and communities meaningfully influence global environmental governance.
where women, youth, and communities meaningfully influence global environmental governance.
Our values guide every decision, partnership, and action we undertake.
Climate Justice
We address the structural drivers of the climate crisis by integrating social equity, water protection, and biodiversity conservation.
Women’s Leadership and Equality
We recognize and strengthen the role of women as key agents of environmental and social transformation.
Intergenerational equity
We defend the right of present and future generations to a healthy environment and responsible decisions today.
Collective action
We believe in the power of alliances, networks, and collaboration to achieve lasting change.
Integrity and Ethics
We act with transparency, responsibility, and accountability toward territories and communities.
Care for Life
We understand the nature not as a resource, but as a basis of life, and to promote its protection and regeneration.
At Barranquilla+20 Foundation, we believe climate justice begins in the territories. Since 2012, under the leadership of Xiomara Acevedo, we have worked with women, youth, children, Afro-descendant and Indigenous peoples, and coastal communities, promoting leadership, equity, environmental education, and social mobilization.
Initiatives such as MallorquínVIVE, Low Carbon Schools, and the Women’s Summits for Climate Justice, along with our engagement in global processes including COP16, COP27, and COP30, have positioned Barranquilla+20 as a pioneering and leading organization in Colombia and Latin America on climate change, biodiversity, water, and territorial justice.
Our commitment is to the defense of life in all its forms, the protection of territories, and the strengthening of the communities that inhabit them. We work to confront the structural causes of the climate crisis while promoting environmental justice, social equity, and gender equality.
We are an interdisciplinary team bringing together diverse knowledge, experiences, and professional trajectories in service of climate justice and the defense of territories.
Our work integrates expertise in law, international relations, design, environmental and forest engineering, international business, communications, and anthropology to strengthen community-led processes and public advocacy efforts.
Each role contributes to a shared vision, where collaboration, women’s leadership, and a deep commitment to territories guide our actions toward sustainable transformations.
Internationalist, a specialist in climate change and cities, and a master's in climate change research, sustainability and development. Currently a student of master's degree in leadership and conservation at the University of Cambridge. Founder and director of Barranquilla,+20, is passionate about climate action, biodiversity management, and water in cities and rural environments. With 9 years of work experience and entrepreneurial, social and environmental. It's part of the steering committee of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network and One Young World.
Social communicator with emphasis in digital media, photographer, and creative audio-visual. Passionate about telling stories that connect climate action, the art and the community and collective. From the communication, promotes narratives that visibilizan processes of youth leadership, climate justice and ecological restoration in the territories.
Responsible for the audiovisual area of Foundation Barranquilla+20. Integrates photography, video, and the management of networks for the communication of the various initiatives of territorial and regional organization. It has a digital environment where mixing everyday life and art.
Social networks and Design
Diseñadora Gráfica y Multimedia. Me gusta generar nuevas ideas, conceptos y desarrollar soluciones creativas e innovadoras. Además de desempeñarme como diseñadora gráfica y multimedia, tengo una gran pasión por la comunicación, la cual me ha llevado a ejercer como redactora y editora de información para medios convencionales. Me encanta trabajar con las comunidades para su desarrollo social, educativo y cultural. He trabajado en instituciones educativas en zonas aisladas del departamento de Nariño como en Tumaco, Pupiales, La Cruz, El Tambo, Olaya herrera, entre otras, llevando el diseño como estrategia para la innovación social en donde facilita e impulsa mejorar las condiciones de vida de la población.
Is a graphic designer, writer, creator of Wind Design, and is recognized as an artist–craftsman, combining digital and manual. I like to take pictures and create pieces that capture the essence of what surrounds it, either through images, words, or objects.
His work is part of the curiosity and creativity, exploring different forms of expression, not limited to a single discipline.
In the Foundation Barranquilla+20 provides from the design and visual communication, supporting the way in which the projects, the people and the initiatives of the Foundation are presented and communicated.
An environmental engineer with professional experience in solid waste management, circular economy and basic sanitation. Supports Barranquilla+20 as a formulation of projects. Committed to environmental education and outreach to promote a sustainable society and to solve problems of socio-environmental.
Coordinador técnico
Estudié Biología motivado por el deseo de aportar a la conservación de la naturaleza. Con el tiempo entendí que proteger la biodiversidad también implica trabajar de la mano con las comunidades. Por ello, combino el enfoque científico con el interés social, convencido de que las alianzas humanas hacen posibles verdaderas hazañas de conservación.
Professional in Public Accounting with 10 years of experience in the area of administrative and accounting officer of the NGO, I have stood by my ability to draw and create systems of internal control, manuals of procedures and good management of human resources. My professional career includes positions as a professional, coordinator, and advisor to administrative and financial, where I have managed to make great contributions to my experience for the business growth.
Abogado y estudiante de la Maestría en Género, sociedades y políticas, Cofundador Yo Gobierno, Becario del Programa de Liderazgo DALE, activista por la justicia de género y la naturaleza. Cuenta con experiencia profesional en auditoría legal, movilización comunitaria, asesoría y orientación a comunidades rurales y urbanas en derechos humanos de las mujeres, justicia de género y ambiente. Promotor de Masculinidades Positivas.
Atlantic Environmental Movement (AMA)
I am a black woman, young and sociologist, committed to the defence of human rights, especially sexual and reproductive rights, social justice and community work from the territories. My experience has been built on processes of formation, social facilitation and support community with young people and women, mainly in contexts where the access rights continues to be crossed by multiple barriers.
Work from an approach to feminist, anti-racist and territorial, backing to the popular education as a tool of social transformation, strengthening the autonomy and informed decision-making. I have been involved in the design and development of workshops, pedagogical materials, and routes of access to rights such as the right to Voluntary termination of Pregnancy (VTP), coordinating efforts with social organizations, citizen groups, citizen initiatives and feminist.
I believe in the collective processes, in care as a political practice, and the importance of building safe spaces, sensitive and contextualized, that recognize the realities, knowledge and strengths of the communities. My work part of the territory, of listening and of the conviction that social change is built from the everyday and the community.
Contributor and volunteer production team of Caravan Territorial Atlantic.
Lorraine Mary Baptist Riquett, afro-caribbean, a lawyer by profession, a human rights defender, eco feminist descolonial, community and anti-racist, founding partner and legal representative in Foundation Midwives, an activist in the Block Feminist Atlantic, a member of the first movement of women Are Ready Colombia.
Colaboradora en la Caravana Atlántico y voluntaria de la Fundación Barranquilla +20.
Activista social y profesional de la Sociología, Especialista en Administración de Programas Sociales con Énfasis Municipal y Magistra en Proyectos de Desarrollo Social, con experiencia en sector público y privado. Asesora Metodológica e Investigadora. Amplia experiencia en trabajo social con poblaciones vulnerables y diversos tipos y formas de violencias. Asesoría, asistencia técnica, acompañamiento y capacitación a organizaciones de la sociedad civil. Incluye programas de convivencia y seguridad ciudadana desde una perspectiva holística. Apoyo acompañamiento a mujeres víctimas de violencia de género dentro del proyecto de base territorial Barranquilla Ciudad Segura para las Mujeres.
Environmental engineer - Carbon Footprint and Water Footprint
Licenciado en Ciencias Exactas con énfasis en educación ambiental, candidato a Magister en ingeniería y tecnología ambiental, miembro activo de la Red Colombiana de Jóvenes por la Biodiversidad. 8 años de experiencia en investigación, docencia y educación ambiental.
