On Friday, 11 September 2026, we welcomed José Ángel Calle Suárez, Director of AECID’s Directorate for Partnerships for Sustainable Development and Innovation, and Isabel Sanchis Vila, Head of the Support Unit, to Cotacachi. The delegation was accompanied by Elena Palomar, General Coordinator of Spanish Cooperation in Ecuador.
The day began with a visit to the biofactory in Imantag, where around 20 Kichwa women producers were preparing chelated biofertilisers designed to promote crop growth, flowering and fruit development. The activity was led by Alexandra Alta, a member of the Central Committee of Women of UNORCAC (CCMU). The visit provided an opportunity to learn first-hand about the work carried out by the producers, exchange experiences with them and see the progress made in applying agroecological practices aimed at improving production and reducing dependence on external inputs.
Afterwards, we shared lunch with representatives of the CCMU at Jambi Mascari. The women explained the work carried out by the organisation to strengthen the participation and autonomy of Kichwa women in the communities of Cotacachi, as well as to improve their living conditions. They also shared the main difficulties and challenges they face in their daily lives, allowing the delegation to gain a first-hand understanding of both the progress achieved and the challenges that still remain.
The day continued at the headquarters of the Assembly of Cantonal Unity of Cotacachi (AUCC), with the participation of the technical team and the organisations involved in the project: the Toisán Corporation and AUCC as implementing organisations, together with Entrepueblos and Mundukide in supporting roles. During the meeting, the main progress made in the project’s four components was presented: citizen participation, gender equality, sustainable production and marketing.
The visit concluded with a tasting of products from the Kutakachi marketing network, whose strengthening is one of the project’s key areas of work. It was an opportunity to show how support for agroecological production is complemented by strengthening organisational and commercial processes, with the aim of turning the efforts of producers and local organisations into greater economic opportunities and more sustainable local development.
The day provided an opportunity to share the progress, lessons learned and challenges of the work being carried out in Cotacachi directly with AECID representatives, placing local organisations and, particularly, the Kichwa women who drive these processes forward every day in their communities at the heart of the project.
Ecuador
