Ecuador country strategic plan (2023–2027)

CSP approved at EB November 2022 session

Revision 01 approved by the RD in November 2023

Ecuador has made important progress in the fight against poverty over the last decade. However, the gains have been compromised. A fall in oil prices, extreme weather events, earthquakes and the arrival of large numbers of refugees and migrants, compounded by the socioeconomic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are among the events that have deepened a social and economic crisis.

An 11.0 percentage point increase in poverty between 2019 and 2021 – resulting in 1.1 million people slipping into extreme poverty and 2.0 million experiencing food insecurity – and the double burden of malnutrition (with one in four children being chronically malnourished while six in ten people are overweight or obese) place Ecuador at the forefront of a variety of multidimensional challenges.

The formulation of the country strategic plan has taken into consideration these challenges, the existing gaps in efforts to achieve zero hunger, national priorities, and the comparative advantage of WFP as a strategic partner. It focuses on reducing hunger and malnutrition, achieving food security, and moving towards the consolidation of sustainable, equitable and inclusive food systems. The main opportunities identified have led to the creation of the following country strategic plan outcomes:

➢ Outcome 1: Considering human mobility in all its forms, people in conditions of vulnerability and food insecurity in Ecuador can meet their essential needs and build and strengthen their livelihoods before, during and immediately after emergencies, disasters and prolonged crises.

➢ Outcome 2: Vulnerable people, particularly those in the first 1,000 days, school-age girls and boys, and adolescents, are able to meet their food, nutritional and basic needs throughout the life cycle, improving human capital in Ecuador.

➢ Outcome 3: Vulnerable communities, family farmers and relevant actors in food value chains in Ecuador benefit from more sustainable, inclusive and healthy food systems and strengthened resilience against climate change and other shocks and stressors throughout the year.

➢ Outcome 4: Government institutions and multilateral partners in Ecuador are provided with services for the effective, transparent and efficient execution of their operations throughout the year.

The formulation of interventions has been guided by the cross-cutting priorities of gender equality and women's empowerment, environmental sustainability, accountability to affected populations, nutrition integration, capacity building, sensitivity to ethnic groups, and innovation.

WFP will work in close strategic and operational coordination with national and local institutions, other United Nations agencies, academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, and humanitarian and development partners, promoting bilateral alliances with other actors in the humanitarian community to achieve the country strategic plan outcomes and contribute decisively to ending hunger and malnutrition in Ecuador.