Ecuador
Total Projects: 32
Project Spending: $110,045
One of the five Andean countries of South America, Ecuador is made up of a diverse population of indigenous communities, mestizo or those of mixed Spanish origin, the descendants of African slaves, and mixes of these groups.
Now-Ecuadorian territories were home to a variety of indigenous groups prior to being conquered by the Inca Empire in the 15th century. In the 16th century, the region was colonized by the Spanish Empire, achieving independence in 1820 as part of Gran Colombia and then becoming the sovereign state of Ecuador in 1830.
Ecuador is diverse environmentally, culturally, and linguistically. Currently, there are approximately 23 different languages spoken throughout Ecuador, 13 of which are officially recognized, and home to 14 distinct indigenous peoples. Ecuador’s diverse landscape encompasses the Galápagos Islands, the Ecuadorian coastal region, the Andean highlands and the Amazon jungle.
According to the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC) of Ecuador, in June 2023 27 out of every 100 Ecuadorians were living in poverty. In the rural sector, 46 out of 100 people live in poverty. Approximately 35% of the population has "non-appropriate", part-time or unpaid jobs, resulting in many households not receiving minimum wage and full social benefits.
Current challenges include inequality, underserved rural populations and growing rates of crime and violence. The Ecuadorian economy’s difficulties include insufficient private investment, corruption in the public sector, poor management of its oil exploitation and the recent climatic disasters.
Discover Projects in Ecuador
![Plaza Gutierrez Women's Entrepreneurial Collective / Colectivo Mujeres Emprendedoras de Plaza Gutiérrez](/media_cache/files/projects/project_thumb/7000_WhatsApp_Image_2023-11-01_at_6.32.01_PM_(1).jpeg)
Plaza Gutierrez Women's Entrepreneurial Collective / Colectivo Mujeres Emprendedoras de Plaza Gutiérrez
![Arándanos de los Andes](/media_cache/files/projects/project_thumb/7074_WhatsApp_Image_2023-12-03_at_17.36.03_(3).jpeg)
Arándanos de los Andes
![Tarpuy: Strengthening Andean Chakras and Family and Peasant Food Sovereignty Project](/media_cache/files/projects/project_thumb/7057_TARPUY.jpg)
Tarpuy: Strengthening Andean Chakras and Family and Peasant Food Sovereignty Project
![Muyukay: Be Like the Seed](/media_cache/files/projects/project_thumb/6988_WhatsApp_Image_2023-10-30_at_3.10.39_PM.jpeg)
Muyukay: Be Like the Seed
![Cultivando el Futuro; Economic Reactivation of Rural Communities](/media_cache/files/projects/project_thumb/7017_335105695_3338873253092069_3505495982422855578_n.jpeg)
Cultivando el Futuro; Economic Reactivation of Rural Communities
![Strengthening Ancestral Education at Tayu Jee](/media_cache/files/projects/project_thumb/6381_seed_collection_for_handicrafts.jpeg)
Strengthening Ancestral Education at Tayu Jee
![“Our Mothers” - Strengthening Afro-Ecuadorian Cultural Tourism](/media_cache/files/projects/project_thumb/6402_30739114_1630332030415456_8893608656935845888_n.jpg)
“Our Mothers” - Strengthening Afro-Ecuadorian Cultural Tourism
![Santa Rosa Women’s Community Eco-Tourism](/media_cache/files/projects/project_thumb/6357_IMG_8639.jpeg)
Santa Rosa Women’s Community Eco-Tourism
![Rekindling afro-ecuadorian culture through history, dance and music](/media_cache/files/projects/project_thumb/6392_IMG-20230612-WA0005_(1).jpg)
Rekindling afro-ecuadorian culture through history, dance and music
![Huaticocha Reads: creating safe space to read and dream](/media_cache/files/projects/project_thumb/6389_EDBD6603-B25E-4DFF-A480-AC21E7ECACCE_1_105_c.jpeg)
Huaticocha Reads: creating safe space to read and dream
![Women's Advisory Committee](/media_cache/files/projects/project_thumb/5410_IMG_7882.jpeg)
Women's Advisory Committee
![COVID-19: Food Security, Employment, and Market Access Among Rural, Indigenous Families](/media_cache/files/projects/project_thumb/4785_WhatsApp_Image_2020-05-12_at_12.30.06_PM.jpeg)
COVID-19: Food Security, Employment, and Market Access Among Rural, Indigenous Families
![COVID-19: Food, Hygiene, and Medical Support through Colectivo Maki](/media_cache/files/projects/project_thumb/4787_Colectivo_Maki_Logo.png)
COVID-19: Food, Hygiene, and Medical Support through Colectivo Maki
![Descolonizando la Educación](/media_cache/files/projects/project_thumb/5056_Screen_Shot_2020-08-25_at_4.31.43_PM.png)
Descolonizando la Educación
![Recuperation of Medicinal Plants in Rural Communities](/media_cache/files/projects/project_thumb/3836_91623927_1260413997681207_1587044592589471744_n.jpg)
Recuperation of Medicinal Plants in Rural Communities
![Revitalizing Otavalo's Kichwa Cultural Museum](/media_cache/files/projects/project_thumb/3263_Museo4.jpg)
Revitalizing Otavalo's Kichwa Cultural Museum
![Closing the Cycle](/media_cache/files/projects/project_thumb/2972_imagen.png)
Closing the Cycle
![Delivering Safe Water to the Amazon](/media_cache/files/projects/project_thumb/2671_Community_members_cleared_the_path_for_piping,_gathered_to_discuss_project.jpg)
Delivering Safe Water to the Amazon
![Healthy Pre-Kindergarten Environments](/media_cache/files/projects/project_thumb/2926_WhatsApp_Image_2018-03-03.jpeg)
Healthy Pre-Kindergarten Environments
![Herlinda Toral English Technology Library and Resource Center](/media_cache/files/projects/project_thumb/2628_image8.jpeg)
Herlinda Toral English Technology Library and Resource Center
![Witsaja: Preserving and Strengthening the Sapara Identity](/media_cache/files/projects/project_thumb/2382_16683863_656237484500865_340921468091357670_n_(2).jpg)
Witsaja: Preserving and Strengthening the Sapara Identity
![Advancing Educational Opportunities in the Ecuadorian Amazon](/media_cache/files/projects/2017/02/project_thumb/Ecuador-Phase-1-Community-Center-Group-Mural-Painting-Hepting-Laura.jpg)
Advancing Educational Opportunities in the Ecuadorian Amazon
![Dollies as a Sustainable Women's Leadership Tool](/media_cache/files/projects/2016/10/project_thumb/Dolly-minga-photo-6.jpg)
Dollies as a Sustainable Women's Leadership Tool
![Local-led Culinary Tourism in the Ecuadorian Andes](/media_cache/files/projects/2016/09/project_thumb/IMG_3382.jpg)
Local-led Culinary Tourism in the Ecuadorian Andes
![Cebadas Maki](/media_cache/files/projects/2015/12/project_thumb/photo-2.jpg)
Cebadas Maki
![Fruiting Forests](/media_cache/files/projects/2015/10/project_thumb/15-063-Rule.jpg)
Fruiting Forests
![Women Entrepreneurship through Recycled Art in Ecuador](/media_cache/files/projects/2015/01/project_thumb/Culturaldance.jpg)
Women Entrepreneurship through Recycled Art in Ecuador
![Garden Revitalization for Girls Empowerment in Ecuador](/media_cache/files/projects/2015/06/project_thumb/Sandrena-Frischer.jpg)
Garden Revitalization for Girls Empowerment in Ecuador
![Arajuno Road Project School Gardens](/media_cache/files/projects/2015/05/project_thumb/Ecuador-Leah-Gillett.jpg)
Arajuno Road Project School Gardens
![Promotion Vivero Morochos](/media_cache/files/projects/2015/01/project_thumb/Childs.jpg)
Promotion Vivero Morochos
![Community Sustainable Development Workshops in Chuyayaku](/media_cache/files/projects/2015/01/project_thumb/100_3612.jpg)
Community Sustainable Development Workshops in Chuyayaku
![Proyecto Cenit (Project Zenith)](/media_cache/files/projects/2012/06/project_thumb/220.jpg)