CAF approves USD 150 million to improve access to mental health services in Colombia

CAF, Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, approved a loan of USD 150 million for Colombia to improve access to and quality of mental health services, to prioritize primary care and reduce gaps in guaranteeing the right to health in vulnerable populations, rural areas and historically excluded communities. This Program was structured by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, as the governing body for health in Colombia, and is in line with the approach defined through the Mental Health Policy 2024-2033.

The program will focus on strengthening institutional capacity for the provision of mental health services; strengthening a national mental health network with a territorial approach and the technical capacities of human talent and community personnel in primary care; and reducing socio-cultural barriers in access to mental health services.

Interventions will include:

• Improvements in physical infrastructure
• Acquisition of medical equipment
• Extra-mural mobile units and vehicles to facilitate physical access to services in rural areas.
• Specialized trainings
• A communication strategy for behavioral change and reduction of stigma and discrimination.

"With this approval, CAF reaffirms its commitment to the well-being of Colombians, especially in an area as sensitive as mental health. This program will not only improve infrastructure and services, but will promote a more inclusive and community-based approach to care, prioritizing those who need it most," said Sergio Diaz-Granados, CAF's executive president.

Colombia, as a founding partner of CAF, maintains a strategic relationship with the institution. At the end of April 2025, the country's sovereign portfolio amounted to USD 4.091 billion, representing 11.11% of the total. Between 2020 and 2024, CAF approved operations for USD 8,676.9 million for Colombia (11.82% of the bank's total) and disbursed USD 4,360.6 million (9.79% of the total).