Ecuador

In Ecuador, Mundukide promotes sustainable socioeconomic development and strengthens associativism among rural entities on the northern border and in the Amazon.

We work hand in hand with women entrepreneurs in the Intag valley, alongside the Toisan Corporation, and with indigenous communities in Cotacachi, together with the Central Committee of Women of UNORCAC (CCMU), promoting agroecological transition, organisational strengthening, and joint marketing through the Kutakachi network. We also support the association of small farmers in the Amazon in strengthening their governance and planning.

Work that brings together agriculture, culture, and women's leadership, placing people and communities at the centre of their own development.

PROGRESS

During 2025, Mundukide launched a new project in Ecuador, with the support of AECID, titled: "Strengthened social participation system drives a sustainable production model with a gender and rights approach in Cotacachi." This project builds on the process of strengthening the Kutakachi SAS joint marketing network, while also incorporating a new strategic line focused on agroecological transition. The work is carried out both in the Intag valley, together with the Toisan Corporation, and in the Andean area of Cotacachi, in coordination with the Central Committee of Women of UNORCAC (CCMU). The initiative is implemented jointly with the Entrepueblos Association, whose local counterpart —the Cotacachi Cantonal Unity Assembly— drives actions related to strengthening the social participation system and combating gender-based violence.

On the productive side, the project has begun promoting an agroecological transition with a solid technical foundation. Throughout the year, numerous training sessions, farm visits, and production diagnostics have been carried out, supporting farming families in improving soil management, plant nutrition, and natural pest control. The strategy of farmer-run bio-factories has become a key pillar: collective spaces where bio-inputs are produced and knowledge is shared. This model not only strengthens technical capacities but also reduces dependence on agrochemicals, reinforces productive autonomy, and consolidates community organisation.

In the Andean area, the process is strongly led by indigenous women through the CCMU. They work on managing the Andean chakra —the traditional garden— as the basis of family nutrition and as a source of income through the sale of surplus produce at the Pachamama Fair. This approach brings together culture, food sovereignty, and local economy, positioning women as central actors in territorial development.

FAO's recognition of the Andean chakra as a GIAHS (Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System) is one of the most significant milestones of the process. During 2025, this recognition helped position Cotacachi as a benchmark in resilient agriculture and climate action, including a national award to the Municipal Government for its exemplary practices. Likewise, the CCMU —with Mundukide's support— was recognised nationally in the AgroConCiencia-FARM competition, reinforcing the coherence between local public policy, women's leadership, and productive sustainability.

On the commercial side, the Kutakachi network has demonstrated capacity for growth and adaptation. Despite a period of disruption that affected the canton's economic activity and the departure of some ventures, the network managed to maintain a high level of sales and significantly expand its points of sale, establishing strategic alliances with actors such as the Ecuadorian Corporation of Entrepreneurs and Businesspeople (COEE). The development of a strategic plan and ongoing support in planning, accounting, and sales reflect an organisational strengthening process with business vision and a commitment to sustainable local development.