Team Europe package will support the country with initiatives for around USD 37 million in its first phase

Team Europe’s approach in Ecuador is a response that will combine the redirection of new resources and funds from the EU, its Member States and European Investment Bank (EIB) loans. During this first phase, work will be carried out on initiatives amounting to approximately USD 37M.

The portfolio of new funds includes 5 actions (3 short term and 2 medium/long term) for USD 15.5M. Among them are those related to providing an initial response to the emergency for priority needs such as: social protection and food security for vulnerable groups; health capacity and support in the management of dead bodies; and psychosocial support. Similarly, diagnostic capacity will be strengthened in faculties of several universities, and water and sanitation and rural health projects will be implemented.

Under the modality of reorientation and advancement of funds, 25 initiatives are being implemented (20 in the short term and 5 in the medium/long term) for more than USD 21.5 million. One of the projects is the Frontera Norte Program, since this region faces urgent needs in terms of health, food security and economy. Other examples relate to natural disaster prevention and preparedness projects from which we have redirected funds to facilitate distance learning in communities with limited access, or to provide emergency response to small hospitals.

Additionally, although this is not a reorientation, the Government is being assisted with a USD7M advance for a project that aims to reactivate the economy in Manabí and Esmeraldas. The funds for this action were expected to arrive at the end of this year or next, but under the circumstances of the crisis, the advance payment was approved as a matter of urgency.

Explaining in more detail the concept of reorientation, Marianne Van Steen, EU Ambassador to Ecuador clarified that: "Projects with redirected funds remain valid and we are not changing their main objectives. However, we cannot continue to provide training if there are no protection masks; or promote education if there is no connectivity. Nor can we continue to implement a rural project with a peasant association to strengthen a production chain without the peasants having personal protection inputs".

So far, the EU is the area most affected by COVID19 with more than half of all the deaths in the world. Although this health and economic crisis generates very big challenges within the European bloc, its commitment to a GLOBAL response remains intact. For this reason, a second phase of the Europe-Ecuador Package is expected, with new resources to work in the areas of water and sanitation, risk management, migration and economic recovery.