Development Cooperation - Modalities

This modality generates important bonds with the country, since it is granted after an analysis of the management capacity of its public finances, its macroeconomic indicators, and the national development strategies. Since it is a disbursement to the General State Budget, the country is free to direct these resources to any priority area. Through the approval of the last bilateral cooperation package (€67M), different programmes have been or are currently being executed. 

• €25M to support the implementation of the Productive Reactivation agenda of Manabí and Esmeraldas, affected by the earthquake of 16/04/2016. 
• €6.4M of extraordinary disbursement to the budget support for the National Plan for Good Living, Objective 8 to promote the economic development focused on MIPYMES. 
• €18.9M for the Northern Border-Development Territory and Peace Programme implemented by AECID and GIZ to empower local authorities of the Northern Commonwealth to improve access to quality public services, the rights for people in a vulnerable situation, as well as rural and local development. 
• €10M for the Trade Support Programme, which has benefited small and medium businesses, through FEDEXPOR and CORPEI. 
• €4.4M as accompanying measures including a programme operated by AECID in the fields of knowledge, science, technology and innovation. 
• €2.3M for the Circular Economy (CirEc) Support Programme in Ecuador, which has the following main pivots: (i) Support the development of a CirEc policy in the country; (ii) Support the conformation of CirEc nets including the Solid Waste Stock Market to encourage recycling; (iii) Support to obtain a certification in CirEc; and (iv) Support and financing CirEc entrepreneurship. 

EIDHR is a thematic programme of the EU which objective is to promote democracy and human rights in all countries, through initiatives to help civil society. The European Parliament and the Council adopted the EIDHR for the period 2014-2020, in March 2014.

The EIDHR seeks to enhance respect, implementation and compliance with human rights and fundamental freedoms as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and, support, develop and consolidate democracy in third countries, strengthening the democratic cycle and enhancing participatory and representative democracy.

In Ecuador, the EIDHR supports the promotion of EU values ​​through concrete actions such as the construction of mechanisms to strengthen legislative management in the National Assembly, the prevention and eradication of gender violence - especially femicide, the protection of the human rights of indigenous people in voluntary isolation, the strengthening and protection of human rights organizations, and the right to decent nutrition in rural communities.

The EU is fully committed to supporting civil society organizations (CSOs) recognizing their function of articulating the concerns of citizens, thus strengthening development and democracy, as well as the protection and promotion of human rights.

It is part of the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI), which was adopted in March 2014 (Regulation No. 233/2014) for the 2014-2020 period. The main objective of the CSO Programme is to strengthen civil society organizations within the partner countries of the European Union, as well as to raise awareness and empower European citizens regarding development.

The 2014-2020 Multi-Annual Indicative Programme of the CSO Programme has three priorities, of which one refers directly to actions in the EU partner countries.

The actions range from citizen dialogue and participation tables for the implementation and monitoring of the SDGs in Ecuador to sustainable, inclusive, and innovative initiatives of local socio-economic development in areas affected by the earthquake; protection and use of water sources; promotion of a farmer and family sustainable agriculture; strengthening the articulation between civil society, universities, and local authorities; and the participation of civil society in the electoral process, as well as the promotion of indigenous governance.

This focuses on improving the contribution of Local Authorities in governance and development processes.

The Multiannual Programme establishes a cooperation instrument for the period 2014-2020, and one of its objectives is to strengthen local authorities and associations of local authorities, which in Ecuador are AME, and CONAGOPARE.

The EU in Ecuador has financed projects of Public, Productive and Solid Waste with Local Authorities such as:

• €1M with CONGOPE for the “Support to the Development and Implementation of Local Public Policies for the Adjustment and Mitigation for Climate Change”.
• €1M with AME for the “Improvement of the City Service in the Sustainable Overall Management of Solid Waste and Implementation of Public Policies regarding GIRS in Ecuador”

The EU in Ecuador, together with its headquarters in Brussels, is promoting the Territorial Approach to Local Development. This includes supporting the training of local authorities and leveraging their experience to promote a territorial approach to local development, including decentralization processes.

In this context, the EU Roadmap with Local Authorities will be launched in the last quarter of this year.