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Country Profile: Ecuador
Ecuador is located in Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru. Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America. Ecuador marked 25 years of civilian governance in 2004 but the period has been marred by political instability.
Capital: Quito
Population 13,547,510
Life expectancy: 73 years (male) 79 years (female)
Population below national poverty line: 41% (2003)
GDP per capita: $4,500 (2006 est.)
Religion: Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%
Languages: Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)
Climate: tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands
Ecuador has a large amount of natural hazards including frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; floods and periodic droughts. Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world
Bóthar in Ecuador
Bóthar began working in Ecuador in 2003. Bóthar provides families with sheep, goats, ducks, beehives and tree saplings. Bóthar has also supported its projects in by supplying farming equipment and veterinary supplies. Bothars projects in Ecuador put a high emphasis on protecting the environment and using farming methods and tree planting to improve soil quality and try to stop soil erosion.
ECUADOR
Project title: Peru/Ecuador Border Bi-National Project
Location: Piura (Peru), Loja (Ecuador)
Number of families: 2,000
Animals: 500 families received combinations of 1,470 sheep, 1,470 goats and 650 ducks and 436 beehives
Other inputs: tree seedlings, cook stoves, carob pod storage sheds, hand-dug wells, water catchments, micro-irrigation system, production units
Training: in forest & water management, marketing, agro-ecological production, semi-zero grazing livestock management, strengthening of local organisations and leaders
Brief synopsis: as a bi-national umbrella project it targets rural development on both the Peruvian and the Ecuadorian side of the border involving community-based organisational development and environmental conservation measures
Pass-on obligations: the equivalent of all gifts to beneficiaries will be passed on to another prepared family; a revolving fund has been established
Benefits: The improvement of the living conditions and food security of 2000 families, strengthen the local community-based organizations, improve natural resource management
Co-financing partners: Heifer International Ecuador and Heifer International Peru
Local partners: Unitarian, Provincial Federation of Farmers, Organization of the South and the Loja Women's Popular Union
Other relevant data: Given the former border conflict, the project is part of a joint agenda and strategy within a mutually founded context of peace and reconciliation
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