The projects ‘Sustainable management of natural resources (GESOREN)’ and ‘Modernisation and decentralisation (PROMODE)’ are in line with the priority areas agreed by the German and Ecuadorian governments and link in with Ecuador’s development strategy.

Environmental protection and the conservation of natural resources

Ecuador is one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world and the Ecuadorian government is committed to protecting the environment and conserving natural resources. The support provided by German development cooperation contributes to the conservation of biodiversity and natural resources. Efficient, participatory, coordinated management of protected areas and their zones of influence combined with efforts to promote the sustainable use of natural resources are to bring about positive results. The expectation is that these measures will help to conserve biodiversity, create sources of income for the local population and the country as a whole and thus help reduce poverty.

It is in everyone’s interest to preserve Ecuador’s extensive tropical forests. Cooperation between Germany and Ecuador emphasises the global importance of these regions and also addresses national and local obstacles to development. Introducing sustainable methods for using resources, for example, helps maintain the economic production base and reduce poverty. According to the National Institute for Statistics and the Census in Ecuador (INEC), more than a third of the country’s population is classed as poor, with over 15 % living in extreme poverty (December 2008).

The support provided concentrates on promoting protected areas and their buffer zones as well as eco-corridors. German development cooperation focuses in particular on the National System of Protected Areas (SNAP). SNAP’s underlying strategic plan forms the basis for cooperation and ensures that the partners assume ownership of the process.

German development cooperation encourages further development of standards and institutions and also supports the financial management of protected areas. It strengthens sub-national actors’ understanding of the role they play in the effective management of protected areas and their zones of influence. In addition, it promotes the valorisation of natural resources and the introduction of incentives to protect these resources.

Modernisation of the state, decentralisation and strengthening autonomous, decentralised governments

German-Ecuadorian cooperation promotes a system of effective, decentralised and democratic government as well as civil society organisations capable of articulating the interests of the people they represent. These are the prerequisites for creating an enabling environment for poverty reduction and sustainable development, and for providing a sufficient quantity of goods and services of acceptable quality. The joint strategy is designed to make public goods and services more efficient, effective, equitable, transparent and participatory.

The measure of progress is public awareness of the improved quality of public services, the availability of functional spaces for civic participation, integrated development and budget planning and a greater transfer of authority and resources to local levels of government.

Taking this into consideration, German development cooperation supports its Ecuadorian partners in their efforts to reform and democratise the state, focusing in particular on civil rights. Support is also provided to promote the efficient and transparent management of public finances and to develop the management capacities of local government bodies and increase the resources available to them.