"Legitimacy in the Energy Transition Shared Pathways Between Companies and the Wayúu People" January 2026

A development project is considered legitimate when it is perceived as fair, respectful, and aligned with the values, rights, and ways of life of those who inhabit the territory. In La Guajira, Colombia, companies… seek legitimacy through permits, consultations, and social programs, whereas the Indigenous Wayúu communities assess it based on respect for territory, spirituality, and traditional forms of governance—perspectives that do not always align....

We provide recommendations… for strengthening legitimacy… in the context of five key challenges: (1) Lack of cultural understanding, (2) Distrust among actors, (3) Limited participation in formal consultation process, (4) Inadequate material compensation with no lasting impact, and (5) Symbolic inclusion...

Legitimacy is an ongoing, relational, and dynamic process; it can be gained, sustained, or lost depending on how relationships, commitments, and mutual respect among companies, governments, and Indigenous peoples are managed....

Many Indigenous communities perceive consultation processes and formal meetings as procedures whose outcomes have already been predetermined by companies or authorities. This perception fuels distrust and generates resistance, weakening prospects for genuine cooperation...

As well as legal compliance, legitimacy also requires listening to, acknowledging, and valuing different ways of understanding the world and territory. The participation of Indigenous communities cannot be limited to material compensation or benefits; it must also include respect for traditions, customary authorities, and community leadership...

“If the energy transition aims to be just, it must begin by listening to Indigenous peoples—not as obstacles, but as holders of knowledge.” — Human rights and environmental defender, Alta Guajira (2022)...

Bring spaces for consultation, dialogue, and participation closer to local communities to make them more accessible. Also create spaces for free expression without pressure, while acknowledging the power imbalance among companies, the government, Indigenous communities, and advisors...

Having a seat at the table does not guarantee having a voice or decision-making power… What matters is not only ‘including’ actors, but also designing participation processes that allow communities’ voices to be heard and their contributions to be translated into concrete decisions...