EQUITY GAUGE PROFILES: ECUADOR

Research & Monitoring Advocacy & Public Participation Community Involvement Key People & Partners Documents of Interest

Introduction to Ecuador:
Ecuador is one of the countries in the Americas with the most inequities. According to the Human Development Report of 2001, it is located in the 72nd place of the index of Human Development, with a Gini index of aprox. 0.58, that reveals the existence of large internal inequalities. National studies show the huge disparity which exists in the distribution of the country's wealth: in 1998, 10% of the wealthiest population held 42.5% of the national revenue, while the poorest 10%, had barely 0.6%.

Ecuador Gauge Website: www.aldesecuador.com

Summary:
The Ecuador Gauge's work started in El Tambo and small surrounding areas. One highlight is that they developed a GIS which is being used for municipal health planning. Challenges include working with a small area/population and the need to amplify the work geographically, and to include provincial government to be able to address important policy issues using an equity lens. They would like to start an observatory, but financial constraints exist. They have also supported leadership development working with the community.

Key People:

• David Acurio
• Jorge Luis García
• Mónica Armijos

Key Partners:

• ALDES (Alternatives by Social Development)
• Cuenca`s University - Mastery in Public Health
• Municipality "El Tambo"
• Indigenous organizations

Documents of Interest:

• Overview of the Ecuador Gauge, 24-26 June 2002 [word doc]
• Seminar on Inequalities in Health: 12-17 August 2001, Sponsored by Ecuador Gauge. [in Spanish]
  

The Ecuador Gauge has developed a GIS which is being used for municipal health planning.

• Support to the health council .
• Implemented a line of publications of " Discussion Papers".
• Reactivation of the health council and definition of new roles as space of concertation.
• Increase of the number of members of the council and participation of indigenous people.

• Workshops to discuss the use of an alternative health. (the traditional health with an option to build equity).
• Implementation of a leadership school.
• Creation of a "Day of health and equity" in El Tambo.
• Workshop about the Decentralization and health - "experiences and positions".
• The leadership school is beginning a new phase: two levels, with 45 persons.