CRS Work in Ecuador
The natural disasters, political instability and financial crises of the last decade have compounded the difficulties faced by the poorest, most marginalized Ecuadorians. About 40 percent of Ecuador's population lives below the poverty line, and most are of indigenous or African descent living in rural areas. Some groups, including women and children, small-scale farmers, migrants and refugees, and those living with HIV and AIDS, are especially vulnerable to the country's widening inequality and worsening poverty. Catholic Relief Services addresses poverty using a two-pronged approach. Our development projects provide small-scale farmers with technical assistance, access to credit and other support to help them increase their incomes. CRS also works in some of Ecuador's most marginalized and oppressed communities, helping them organize so they can take part directly in the decision-making process.
Economic Inclusion
With little or no access to capital, markets or effective farming techniques and infrastructure, the majority of small-scale farmers, many of them indigenous and Afro-Ecuadorians, struggle to feed their families. The issue of land ownership is an additional challenge, as much of Ecuador's viable land is concentrated in the hands of a few and even the most basic irrigation systems are out of the reach of many farming families. Meanwhile, pressure for land has resulted in deforestation and soil erosion. Commercialization, however, represents the most significant challenge for most of Ecuador's small-scale farmers. With little access to or information about markets, many have no choice but to accept rock-bottom prices from intermediaries.
To help families grow more food and improve their agricultural income, CRS Ecuador supports projects that provide farmers with agricultural training and better access to existing local markets. Our projects help rehabilitate degraded land; teach better management of natural resources; and provide access to credit that allows farmers to purchase vital seeds, fertilizer and other supplies. In some cases those microfinance services are offered in conjunction with valuable community training in nutrition and health. From our work with indigenous and rural people—many of them women starting small businesses in the highlands—to support for rice farmers in the oil-producing but impoverished Amazon, CRS Ecuador integrates community organization and advocacy, enabling communities to participate directly in the decision-making processes that impact their lives.
Protection of Vulnerable Groups
Ongoing economic crises and social instability in Ecuador exacerbate the poor living conditions of most disadvantaged groups, including indigenous and Afro-Ecuadorians who are often denied access to health and education. Rural areas lack even basic public services, such as drinking water and public sewage. Increasingly, dissatisfied Ecuadorians are emigrating to the United States and elsewhere in search of a better life. Meanwhile, Peruvians, attracted by the Ecuadorian economy, are migrating to Ecuador in search of jobs. Neighboring Colombians have taken refuge in Ecuador to escape a decades-long armed conflict in their own country. Both of these groups face considerable discrimination and prejudice and are vulnerable to issues of labor and sexual exploitation.
To help empower these communities, facilitate their transition out of poverty, and reduce their vulnerability to natural and man-made disasters, CRS Ecuador implements projects that provide direct assistance while advocating for political and economic policy reform. CRS successfully advocated for a commitment from the Ecuadorian government for educational opportunities for children of Colombian refugees. Through a nationwide campaign, CRS raised awareness about the right to education for Colombian children. Currently, CRS is working with Church partners to change the cumbersome admission requirements to allow Colombian children to more easily enroll in school.
In Loja, a poor province in southern Ecuador prone to landslides and earthquakes, CRS helps communities protect against devastation from natural disasters by forming emergency action committees that include the participation of local authorities. In conjunction with the Ministry of Health, CRS and our partners ensure that Ecuadorians have access to HIV testing as well as a full range of social services for people testing positive for HIV.
