Engaging Leading Human Rights Experts

GTE and renowned business and human rights experts Shift first collaborated in 2019 to identify and work to address human rights issues related to GTE’s business operations and value chain. Shift is the leading centre of expertise on the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). The nonprofit organization at one point was chaired by the late John Ruggie who authored the Guiding Principles during his mandate as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Business & Human rights.

Shift introduced GTE staff to a methodology for effectively assessing human rights risks. Shift also facilitated discussions with GTE’s management, corporate responsibility personnel and other field staff at the Company’s operations sites in Colombia and Ecuador, in order to build additional capacity within the Company for managing human rights issues.

With operations in Ecuador growing, in 2023 and 2024, the Company carried out training led by Shift, on the standards of the Guiding Principles of Human Rights and Business. This training workshop was attended by supply chain partners, government officials and civil society organizations. In 2023, the Company also held a session with 19 local supply chain partners in Lago Agrio, communicating its Human Rights Policy, operating philosophy, and the requirements to apply its corporate policies and contractual clauses that speak to the respect and protection of human rights.

The partnership between Shift and GTE continues today. Gran Tierra is one of 18 companies that participate in Shift’s Business Learning program, which was designed to support companies that are committed to working to fulfill their responsibility to respect Human Rights. In order to qualify for the program, participants must meet the following criteria:

  • Evidence of high-level commitment to business and human rights
  • Demonstrated organizational capacity to drive the implementation process
  • Support for the broader, mission-driven learning approach
  • Coherence with human rights principles

Recognizing that human rights risks can arise in any jurisdiction, in 2025 Gran Tierra Energy extended its due diligence approach to Canada through a Risk Assessment that included site visits, interviews with employees, external stakeholders, and human rights workshops. The training sessions involved both Calgary-based staff and field teams, and strengthened shared understanding of human rights risks in day-to-day operations. This included how decisions related to land access, contractor management, and community interaction can create or mitigate potential impacts.

“Partnering with Shift has been a game-changer for us at Gran Tierra Energy. We are committed as a company to integrate the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in our business and this partnership has allowed us to take our focus on human rights to the next level. We are grateful to continue to work with the Shift team, and look forward to their guidance and expertise in order to become a human rights leader in our industry and in support of Colombia and Ecuador.”
Human Rights Due Diligence in Canada
Recognizing that Human Rights risks can arise in any jurisdiction, in 2025, Gran Tierra Energy extended its Human Rights due diligence approach to Canada through a Risk Assessment conducted with Shift–an independent, non-profit centre of expertise on the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The assessment included site visits, interviews with employees […]
Supporting the Cacao Industry in Putumayo
Gran Tierra Energy supports the development of the cacao industry in Putumayo as a pathway to sustainable livelihoods, environmental conservation, and long-term peace. In 2025, Putumayo reached a major milestone by securing the export of 50 tons of organic, deforestation-free cacao to Europe—a 300% increase compared to 2024.
Sowing the Future
While many of GTE’s efforts support today’s cacao producers, Sowing the Future (Sembrando Futuro) focuses on those of tomorrow. The program operates at the Rural Ecological Educational Institution El Cuembí in southern Putumayo, helping students from surrounding rural villages see agriculture as dignified work with real economic potential. The initiative builds on previous investments including […]
Sustainable Sucumbíos
Gran Tierra Energy’s flagship Ecuador social investment project Sustainable Sucumbíos, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, focuses on transforming agricultural processes to make them more profitable and sustainable. GTE has invested US$3.3 million over four years, which has directly benefited nearly 1,000 local farming families in Ecuador, by improving agricultural productivity and increasing household […]
Engagement with First Nations Peoples in Canada
GTE’s engagement model in Western Canada is built on the same foundational principles as in the rest of its operations: respect, collaboration, and transparency. The Company recognizes that working with Indigenous Nations requires effective and transparent communication, cooperation, and mutual understanding. GTE’s approach is guided by: 1. Open and Ongoing Dialogue GTE prioritizes proactive, clear, […]
The Acordionero Forestry Centre
In 2025, Gran Tierra Energy opened the Acordionero Forestry Centre (AFC), a 185-hectare environmental innovation hub located in El Cairo village, Colombia a strategically important conservation zone in Cesar. It is Gran Tierra’s hope that AFC will play a key role in restoring forest corridors and preserving water bodies thar provide water to the surrounding […]
The Costayaco Forestry Centre
The Costayaco Forestry Centre (CFC) has become one of the most innovative reforestation efforts in South America that has grown to 335 hectares, located near the Company’s production facilities in Putumayo. Established in 2010 in coordination with regional environmental regulator Corpoamazonia, the facility has grown into a significant habitat for butterflies, birds, large felines and […]
NaturAmazonas: Gran Tierra’s Largest Environmental Initiative
NaturAmazonas, the flagship conservation program started by GTE and Conservation International, has grown into an alliance of public and private institutions working together to address the root causes of deforestation. It works to develop solutions for reversing the process, while increasing the well-being of nearby communities. GTE’s program has grown into a joint effort between […]
Gran Tierra’s Key Partners Program
GTE’s successful Key Partners program has evolved from a simple award given to the best performing vendors into an integrated, multi-stage program with five components. This program has led to tremendous growth in the capabilities, capacity and competitiveness of vendors in the areas where the company operates. GTE’s Key Partners program helps supply chain partners […]
Preventing Child Recruitment in Putumayo
Gran Tierra Energy, the FC Barcelona Foundation, Colombia’s Agency for Reincorporation and Normalization (ARN) and the World Vision International Foundation, continue their strategic alliance to increase resilience in vulnerable children and reduce their susceptibility to two important Human Rights concerns in the area: substance abuse and militia recruitment. Financed by GTE, the program is implemented […]
Addressing Legacy Threats to Human Safety
One of the most significant Human Rights threats throughout Colombia is the prevalence of anti-personnel mines and other explosive devices that are an unfortunate legacy of the decades-long conflict in the country. To address this risk in southern Putumayo where the Company undertakes exploration and development activities, GTE launched a Humanitarian Demining Pilot Project in […]
Prior Consultation with Indigenous Groups
Colombia’s Constitution grants Indigenous groups the right to “Free Prior Informed Consultation” or Prior Consultation (PC) before any project is considered near Indigenous land. These communities can be found throughout the country, and there are a number of Indigenous groups and several Afro-Colombian groups in the Putumayo near Gran Tierra’s operations. With its increased exploration […]
Threads of the Earth
Gran Tierra Energy recognizes the importance of strengthening relations with Indigenous communities living in areas near GTE’s operations. With this in mind, Gran Tierra, in partnership with the World Corporation for Women in Colombia (CMMC) created the Threads of the Earth (Hilos de la Tierra) program in 2021, which aims to recover ancestral practices through […]
The Suruma Museum
Gran Tierra Energy in partnership with Corpoamazonia and the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History (ICANH) built and opened, in November 2021, a museum in Putumayo that serves local communities as a permanent archaeological exhibition. The Suruma museum is located in the Amazon Experimental Centre (CEA) near Mocoa, Putumayo, and is an educational space to […]
Protecting Human Rights in Ecuador
As a new operator in a country, Gran Tierra must contend with industry legacy impacts that the region may have had. While it is a new company for local Ecuadorian populations in the Sucumbíos province, Gran Tierra’s international experience as a responsible business partner has prepared it well to meaningfully engage communities and manage Human […]
Gran Tierra Te Escucha: An Open Door for the Community
As part of its efforts to maintain a strong, positive relationship with local communities, Gran Tierra has local offices and mobile offices that are part of a program called “Gran Tierra Te Escucha” (Gran Tierra Listens). The role of each office is to create a physical, easily accessible channel for community members to engage in two-way communications […]
How Gran Tierra Handles Petitions, Complaints and Claims
Gran Tierra respects the evolving relationships with local communities and the Company has continued to build relationships based on mutual understanding and acceptance. Gran Tierra seeks to provide quality, timely, coherent, efficient and responsible responses that build trust, manage expectations and minimize environmental risks. Whether Gran Tierra has delegated an activity or performed it directly, […]
Familiarization Trips
GTE has several programs that let people see first-hand what the Company does to minimize the impact of its operations on the environment. One program is called Familiarization Trips (FamTrips), which involves encouraging stakeholders to visit production sites and observe the Company’s practices, particularly with respect to operations and the environment. Since 2019, GTE has […]
Protecting the Water and Environment
Gran Tierra believes that the protection of freshwater is an essential part of responsible oil and gas exploration and production. The Company is committed to ensure that its operations do not have an impact on groundwater and aquifers. Independent monitoring and testing have confirmed that Gran Tierra has fully safeguarded groundwater quality throughout its history […]
Putting Local Businesses First
GTE continues to increase opportunities for local contractors and suppliers through a strategy focusing on putting local companies first to meet its needs for goods and services, only expanding its search beyond the locality if no qualified providers are available. Local vendors are an important driver of regional economies, as GTE’s contributions circulate well beyond […]
Protecting Colombia’s Archaeological Heritage
As an operator in a country with significant archaeological potential, Gran Tierra implements the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History’s (ICAHN) Archeology program that guides our projects during the early stages of operations. This allows the Company to identify and plan for the specific archaeological characteristics of the areas where the Company wants to build […]
Supporting our Stakeholders with Human Rights Training
Gran Tierra Energy is committed to operating at the highest level of responsible business conduct, through the adherence and application of the highest Human Rights and Business International Standards, as well as in strict compliance with the legislation of the countries where the Company operates. GTE creates and ensures a non-discriminatory and respectful work environment […]
Gran Tierra in My Community
Designed to strengthen relationships with local communities, leaders, and institutions in Putumayo, Cauca, Santander, and Cesar departments, GTE In My Community (GTE En Mi Comunidad) is Gran Tierra Energy’s community engagement program that promotes positive values, social connections and meaningful opportunities for families living near our operations. Through interactive educational, cultural, and recreational activities, the […]
Encouraging and Enabling Local Suppliers
Gran Tierra is committed to ensure that economic benefits flow from our operations to local businesses and communities. GTE’s Fair Bidding Process and other procurement procedures are designed to maximize opportunities for local and regional communities. GTE’s commitment to local businesses: To learn more about our partnerships with local suppliers and vendors click here.
Gran Tierra’s Emprender+ Program
Emprender+, GTE’s signature entrepreneurship-based social investment project, is a critical component of GTE’s efforts to address local economic challenges. For the last several years, the program has created opportunities for people to strengthen their businesses and launch new companies while bolstering local economies in Colombia’s Middle Magdalena Valley and Putumayo regions. Emprender+ provides technical training, […]
Tax Revenues Directly Developing Local Territories
Works for Taxes (WFT) is a program created by the Colombian government that allows GTE to use up to 50% of its income tax contributions to directly develop and implement local projects that improve livelihoods, support economic development and help stabilize territories most affected by poverty and the previous armed conflict. WFT is also an important component of Colombia’s Territorially Focused Development Programs (PDETs) following the 2016 peace agreement signed between the FARC-EP guerrilla movement and the Colombian government.
Community Perspectives
I don’t know how to read or write, but I know business, numbers and shoes. Emprender+ taught me how to better organize and analyse my business. I hope that someday I can help other entrepreneurs open their own businesses.