Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador
KETAAKETI and MAKIPURANA:
Partnership for social empowerment in Ecuador" (since 2022)
KETAAKETI works in Ecuador with the local non-governmental organization
MAKIPURANA (since 2022)
KETAAKETI works in Ecuador with the local non-governmental organization
MAKIPURANA (since 2022)
Since 2022, KETAAKETI has collaborated in Ecuador with the local non-governmental organization MAKIPURANA to strengthen the economic and social empowerment of vulnerable women through community-based initiatives: A partnership for social empowerment in Ecuador.
Since 2022, KETAAKETI has collaborated in Ecuador with the local non-governmental organization MAKIPURANA to strengthen the economic and social empowerment of vulnerable women through community-based initiatives: A partnership for social empowerment in Ecuador.
Since 2022, KETAAKETI has collaborated in Ecuador with the local non-governmental organization MAKIPURANA to strengthen the economic and social empowerment of vulnerable women through community-based initiatives: A partnership for social empowerment in Ecuador.
Why Ecuador?
Ecuador, a sovereign republic in northwestern South America, is bordered by Colombia and Peru and has an estimated population of 18 million. Its capital, Quito, is situated at approximately 2,850 meters above sea level in the Andean highlands. The nation's geography ranges from fertile coastal plains and mountainous terrain to the dense, humid Amazon rainforest. Most inhabitants reside in the coastal and Andean regions, while the Amazon basin is home primarily to indigenous communities.
The country continues to face a prolonged economic crisis, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which revealed deep structural weaknesses across both social and economic systems. Despite achieving middle-income status, Ecuador grapples with persistent socioeconomic inequality, particularly in rural areas where economic poverty disproportionately affects indigenous and Afro-Ecuadorian populations.
Between 2007 and 2019, poverty rates declined notably, with the national poverty rate falling from 36.7% to 25%, and extreme poverty from 8.5% to 3.6%. However, the pandemic reversed many of these gains. As of June 2025, poverty stands at 24%, with extreme poverty rising to 10.4%, and reaching as high as 41.7% and 25.1% in rural areas, respectively (https://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/economia/la-tasa-de-pobreza-en-ecuador-llego-al-24-en-junio-de-2025-nota/). Ecuador’s gross national income (GNI) per capita increased from USD 3,330 in 2007 to USD 6,590 in 2023, yet recent indicators show stagnation (https://www.statista.com/statistics/1069945/gross-national-income-per-capita-ecuador/).
February 2026
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Women in rural Ecuador
In remote regions, women face layered vulnerabilities rooted in structural poverty and systemic gender inequality. Many engage in unpaid agricultural or domestic labor, limiting their ability to pursue education or economic opportunities. These challenges are especially prevalent among indigenous and Afro-Ecuadorian women, who experience intersecting forms of exclusion.
Education infrastructure remains sparse in rural communities. Limited access to schools, qualified teachers, and digital resources restricts learning opportunities—especially for girls. Radio continues to be an important communication tool, but it cannot replace comprehensive, inclusive education. Addressing these gaps requires gender-sensitive public policy and investment in vocational training and empowerment programs as critical components of national development.
Why Ecuador?
Ecuador, a sovereign republic in northwestern South America, is bordered by Colombia and Peru and has an estimated population of 18 million. Its capital, Quito, is situated at approximately 2,850 meters above sea level in the Andean highlands. The nation's geography ranges from fertile coastal plains and mountainous terrain to the dense, humid Amazon rainforest. Most inhabitants reside in the coastal and Andean regions, while the Amazon basin is home primarily to indigenous communities.
The country continues to face a prolonged economic crisis, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which revealed deep structural weaknesses across both social and economic systems. Despite achieving middle-income status, Ecuador grapples with persistent socioeconomic inequality, particularly in rural areas where economic poverty disproportionately affects indigenous and Afro-Ecuadorian populations.
Between 2007 and 2019, poverty rates declined notably, with the national poverty rate falling from 36.7% to 25%, and extreme poverty from 8.5% to 3.6%. However, the pandemic reversed many of these gains. As of June 2025, poverty stands at 24%, with extreme poverty rising to 10.4%, and reaching as high as 41.7% and 25.1% in rural areas, respectively (https://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/economia/la-tasa-de-pobreza-en-ecuador-llego-al-24-en-junio-de-2025-nota/). Ecuador’s gross national income (GNI) per capita increased from USD 3,330 in 2007 to USD 6,590 in 2023, yet recent indicators show stagnation (https://www.statista.com/statistics/1069945/gross-national-income-per-capita-ecuador/).
February 2026
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Women in rural Ecuador
In remote regions, women face layered vulnerabilities rooted in structural poverty and systemic gender inequality. Many engage in unpaid agricultural or domestic labor, limiting their ability to pursue education or economic opportunities. These challenges are especially prevalent among indigenous and Afro-Ecuadorian women, who experience intersecting forms of exclusion.
Education infrastructure remains sparse in rural communities. Limited access to schools, qualified teachers, and digital resources restricts learning opportunities—especially for girls. Radio continues to be an important communication tool, but it cannot replace comprehensive, inclusive education. Addressing these gaps requires gender-sensitive public policy and investment in vocational training and empowerment programs as critical components of national development.
Why Ecuador?
Ecuador, a sovereign republic in northwestern South America, is bordered by Colombia and Peru and has an estimated population of 18 million. Its capital, Quito, is situated at approximately 2,850 meters above sea level in the Andean highlands. The nation's geography ranges from fertile coastal plains and mountainous terrain to the dense, humid Amazon rainforest. Most inhabitants reside in the coastal and Andean regions, while the Amazon basin is home primarily to indigenous communities.
The country continues to face a prolonged economic crisis, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which revealed deep structural weaknesses across both social and economic systems. Despite achieving middle-income status, Ecuador grapples with persistent socioeconomic inequality, particularly in rural areas where economic poverty disproportionately affects indigenous and Afro-Ecuadorian populations.
Between 2007 and 2019, poverty rates declined notably, with the national poverty rate falling from 36.7% to 25%, and extreme poverty from 8.5% to 3.6%. However, the pandemic reversed many of these gains. As of June 2025, poverty stands at 24%, with extreme poverty rising to 10.4%, and reaching as high as 41.7% and 25.1% in rural areas, respectively (https://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/economia/la-tasa-de-pobreza-en-ecuador-llego-al-24-en-junio-de-2025-nota/). Ecuador’s gross national income (GNI) per capita increased from USD 3,330 in 2007 to USD 6,590 in 2023, yet recent indicators show stagnation (https://www.statista.com/statistics/1069945/gross-national-income-per-capita-ecuador/).
February 2026
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Women in rural Ecuador
In remote regions, women face layered vulnerabilities rooted in structural poverty and systemic gender inequality. Many engage in unpaid agricultural or domestic labor, limiting their ability to pursue education or economic opportunities. These challenges are especially prevalent among indigenous and Afro-Ecuadorian women, who experience intersecting forms of exclusion.
Education infrastructure remains sparse in rural communities. Limited access to schools, qualified teachers, and digital resources restricts learning opportunities—especially for girls. Radio continues to be an important communication tool, but it cannot replace comprehensive, inclusive education. Addressing these gaps requires gender-sensitive public policy and investment in vocational training and empowerment programs as critical components of national development.
MAKIPURANA
Niza Aragundi
Team Makipurana
Strengthening women’s networks
MAKIPURANA (“Helping Hands” in Quechua) is an Ecuadorian NGO founded by Niza Aragundi and initiated in cooperation with KETAAKETI. Its mission is to support women living below the poverty line by building a grassroots financial support network that fosters personal and family development.
We are proud to collaborate with Niza, an economist specializing in the design and implementation of social protection programs across Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East. Her team includes Male Mora, Verónica Araguello, María Soledad Salvador, and María Victoria Córdova. Together, they develop and implement tailored social intervention projects focused on the demand side, aiming to empower low-income women through entrepreneurship and collective financing.
“Our vision,” Niza explains, “is to strengthen the foundations of existing women’s groups, enabling them to share knowledge and connect with new groups. Each project is unique, and our strategy is based on being proactive and responsive to the specific needs of each community. Our goal is to expand the network nationwide, ensuring it reaches the most vulnerable households.”
Regional coordinators from the local communities serve as direct liaisons to participants in the microfinance groups, facilitating trust and long-term impact.
MAKIPURANA
Niza Aragundi
Team Makipurana
Strengthening women’s networks
MAKIPURANA (“Helping Hands” in Quechua) is an Ecuadorian NGO founded by Niza Aragundi and initiated in cooperation with KETAAKETI. Its mission is to support women living below the poverty line by building a grassroots financial support network that fosters personal and family development.
We are proud to collaborate with Niza, an economist specializing in the design and implementation of social protection programs across Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East. Her team includes Male Mora, Verónica Araguello, María Soledad Salvador, and María Victoria Córdova. Together, they develop and implement tailored social intervention projects focused on the demand side, aiming to empower low-income women through entrepreneurship and collective financing.
“Our vision,” Niza explains, “is to strengthen the foundations of existing women’s groups, enabling them to share knowledge and connect with new groups. Each project is unique, and our strategy is based on being proactive and responsive to the specific needs of each community. Our goal is to expand the network nationwide, ensuring it reaches the most vulnerable households.”
Regional coordinators from the local communities serve as direct liaisons to participants in the microfinance groups, facilitating trust and long-term impact.
MAKIPURANA
Niza Aragundi
Team Makipurana
Strengthening women’s networks
MAKIPURANA (“Helping Hands” in Quechua) is an Ecuadorian NGO founded by Niza Aragundi and initiated in cooperation with KETAAKETI. Its mission is to support women living below the poverty line by building a grassroots financial support network that fosters personal and family development.
We are proud to collaborate with Niza, an economist specializing in the design and implementation of social protection programs across Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East. Her team includes Male Mora, Verónica Araguello, María Soledad Salvador, and María Victoria Córdova. Together, they develop and implement tailored social intervention projects focused on the demand side, aiming to empower low-income women through entrepreneurship and collective financing.
“Our vision,” Niza explains, “is to strengthen the foundations of existing women’s groups, enabling them to share knowledge and connect with new groups. Each project is unique, and our strategy is based on being proactive and responsive to the specific needs of each community. Our goal is to expand the network nationwide, ensuring it reaches the most vulnerable households.”
Regional coordinators from the local communities serve as direct liaisons to participants in the microfinance groups, facilitating trust and long-term impact.
Niza Aragundi highlights the compounded difficulties facing women and children in marginalized communities: domestic violence, increased alcohol abuses among male family members, high rates of single motherhood, and a significant number of families caring for children with and disabilities. Chronic malnutrition remains a critical public health issue in Ecuador. As of 2025, 23% of children under five suffer from stunting, a rate significantly higher than the Latin American regional average of 11.3% (https://globalnutritionreport.org/resources/nutrition-profiles/latin-america-and-caribbean/south-america/ecuador/). These issues, in addition to severe financial insecurity, contribute to multidimensional poverty.
“Financial assistance is important, but not sufficient. Beneficiaries also require psychological care, legal support, training, market access, and preventive health services. Sustainable impact demands not just aid, but solidarity and systemic transformation.” Niza Aragundi
Niza Aragundi highlights the compounded difficulties facing women and children in marginalized communities: domestic violence, increased alcohol abuses among male family members, high rates of single motherhood, and a significant number of families caring for children with and disabilities. Chronic malnutrition remains a critical public health issue in Ecuador. As of 2025, 23% of children under five suffer from stunting, a rate significantly higher than the Latin American regional average of 11.3% (https://globalnutritionreport.org/resources/nutrition-profiles/latin-america-and-caribbean/south-america/ecuador/). These issues, in addition to severe financial insecurity, contribute to multidimensional poverty.
“Financial assistance is important, but not sufficient. Beneficiaries also require psychological care, legal support, training, market access, and preventive health services. Sustainable impact demands not just aid, but solidarity and systemic transformation.” Niza Aragundi
Niza Aragundi highlights the compounded difficulties facing women and children in marginalized communities: domestic violence, increased alcohol abuses among male family members, high rates of single motherhood, and a significant number of families caring for children with and disabilities. Chronic malnutrition remains a critical public health issue in Ecuador. As of 2025, 23% of children under five suffer from stunting, a rate significantly higher than the Latin American regional average of 11.3% (https://globalnutritionreport.org/resources/nutrition-profiles/latin-america-and-caribbean/south-america/ecuador/). These issues, in addition to severe financial insecurity, contribute to multidimensional poverty.
“Financial assistance is important, but not sufficient. Beneficiaries also require psychological care, legal support, training, market access, and preventive health services. Sustainable impact demands not just aid, but solidarity and systemic transformation.” Niza Aragundi