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United Nations system in Ecuador INTERAGENCY ASSESSMENT OF ECUADOR’S NORTHERN BORDER REGION Summary. Background. Visit of the Secretary General to Ecuador in November 2003.

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  1. United Nations system in Ecuador INTERAGENCY ASSESSMENT OF ECUADOR’S NORTHERN BORDER REGION Summary

  2. Background • Visit of the Secretary General to Ecuador in November 2003. • On December 30th, 2003 the Government of Ecuador requested the Secretary General to send an inter-agency mission to the Northern Border Region to assess the present situation and recommend preventive development measures. • In February and March 2004 the Secretary General approved the organization of the assessment mission. The United Nations System in Ecuador took charge in structuring it. Assessment Mission to Ecuador’s Northern Border Region

  3. Objectives of the Mission • Update the diagnosis of the Northern Border Region in terms of strengths and weaknesses and identification of the main challenges from the point of view of human development and the commitments of Ecuador in the Millennium Development Goals Declaration. • Present to the Government of Ecuador a number of recommendations in the various assessment areas. Assessment Mission to Ecuador’s Northern Border Region

  4. Thematic Areas of the Assessment Millennium Development Goals (2000-2015) 1. Poverty and hunger 2. Primary Education 3. Gender Equality 4. Infant Mortality 5. Maternal Health 6. HIV/AIDS, malaria 7. Environmental sustainability 8. Partnership for Development • Human Rights • Humanitarian Assistance and Refugees • Basic Social Services • Poverty, Production and Employment • Environment • Institutional Analysis • Drugs and Crime Cross-cutting areas: Gender and multiculturalism Assessment Mission to Ecuador’s Northern Border Region

  5. The Interagency Mission Members of the Mission: • UNHCR, UN -Department of Political Affairs (DPA), FAO, OPS/WHO, WFP, UNDP, UNICEF, UNODC, UNSECOORD and UNV. Technical Advice: • UNESCO, UNFPA and UNIFEM. Assessment Mission to Ecuador’s Northern Border Region

  6. Pacific Ocean N O E S Geography of the Region 4 Provinces in the Northern Border Region of Ecuador Assessment Mission to Ecuador’s Northern Border Region

  7. The Assessment Process • Collection of secondary information in Quito and in the Northern Border Region • Interviews with development actors of the region (119 interviews) • Field visits in the four provinces • Elaboration of intermediary reports in each thematic areas • Technical discussion within the UN System • Preparation of the final report Assessment Mission to Ecuador’s Northern Border Region

  8. Key Ideas of the Report • The Northern Border Region possesses a enormous development potential • The Northern Border Region is especially vulnerable • There are storing reasons to establish a Special Plan for the region • The region should continue to be a priority for international cooperation and its actions must be coordinated adequately Assessment Mission to Ecuador’s Northern Border Region

  9. 1. A Region with great potential • Cultural diversity (10 ethnic groups with their own language) • Extraordinary biodiversity (7 ecological reserves, 25% of the region’s territory) • Natural resources (Sucumbíos is the heart of oil production) • Social capital (organizations, social networks, participation) Assessment Mission to Ecuador’s Northern Border Region

  10. 2. An especially vulnerable region • Inequalities and social exclusion, poverty levels and gaps in basic social services (education, health, water and sanitation) are above national average. • Institutional weaknesses (Human Rights, security, administration of justice and social rehabilitation) • Deteriorating employment conditions and competitiveness • Strong pressures on the environment • Proximity with a particularly problematic region of Colombia (violence and drug trafficking) Assessment Mission to Ecuador’s Northern Border Region

  11. 3. Need for a Special Plan • Numerous need and urgencies, but limited financial resources and management capacity • Strategic approach on priority objectives (MDGs as a reference) • Preventive character • Respond to bi-national initiatives • Balance and coordination between various levels of government • Channels for social participation Assessment Mission to Ecuador’s Northern Border Region

  12. 4. International Cooperation • International cooperation is considerable in the region • Some dispersion, dis-coordination and gaps • Need to strengthen coordination mechanisms • Role of UDENOR • Convening of the Consultative Group in Brussels, under a new mechanism • Local donors table for the border • For the UN: strengthen its support, joint programming, support to the elaboration of a Special Plan and the Consultative Group Assessment Mission to Ecuador’s Northern Border Region

  13. 2.1. Poverty and Social Services • Historical isolation of the region • Poverty: some cantons are over 95% (Río Verde, San Lorenzo, Eloy Alfaro, Putumayo) • Chronic malnutrition > 30% en Carchi and Sucumbíos, and 50% in Imbabura • Average schooling completed < national average • High levels of child mortality: 54 for each 1,000 born alive in Esmeraldas, 62 in Imbabura and 72 in Carchi • High incidence of malaria in Esmeraldas and Sucumbíos • High incidence of HIV/AIDS in Esmeraldas • Basic needs: 80%-100% of households in the border’s vecinity Assessment Mission to Ecuador’s Northern Border Region

  14. 2.2. Human Rights and Administration of Justice • Insecurity of population caused by violence and impunity (high homicide rates) • Weakness of the provincial “Defensorías del Pueblo” • Sexual exploitation and violence against women • Serious shortcomings in public order and absence of State authority • Weakness of the social rehabilitation system • Communities denounce the violation of indigenous people collective rights • Discrimination against Colombian citizens Assessment Mission to Ecuador’s Northern Border Region

  15. 2.3. Effects of the Colombian Conflict • As of June 30, 2004: 26,703 persons had requested refugee status. It was granted to 7,609 of them • Additional demands for basic social services. • Difficult social insertion • Illicit trade (drugs, precursors, arms) • Other illegal activities • Insecurity • Worries about the possible effects of aerial spraying of illicit crops in Colombia Assessment Mission to Ecuador’s Northern Border Region

  16. 3.1. Prevention • Participation and consultation channels for communities • Prevention and conflict resolution mechanisms • Sustainability • Environment impact assessments and on social – environmental conflicts • Territorial approach: non-discriminatory focus Assessment Mission to Ecuador’s Northern Border Region

  17. 3.2. Inter-institutional Coordination • Northern Border Cabinet: coordination and follow-up to the Special Plan • Clarify the role and the technical profile of UDENOR as a coordinator of international cooperation • Rising responsibility of sectional governments: training and decentralization • Promotion of associations and consortiums between local governments • Special Plan as an articulator of actions Assessment Mission to Ecuador’s Northern Border Region

  18. 4.1. Consultative Group • Beyond a simple presentation of project for financing • Should not necessarily focus on UDENOR • Platform to discuss and reach consensus on policy priorities and the work areas of the Special Plan • Participation of the central government, sectional government, civil society and the private sector • Convene the Group once the Government has analyzed and discussed the policy framework • The UN could collaborate with the Government and the IADB Assessment Mission to Ecuador’s Northern Border Region

  19. Recommendations

  20. Actions in 4 main Areas • Local governance • Refuge and humanitarian aid • Basic Social Services • Drugs and illicit activities Assessment Mission to Ecuador’s Northern Border Region

  21. The Government’s first reactions • The Government has acknowledged the relevance of the recommendations of the Un inter-agency report • Many public institutions have been asked to study the report and offer their comments • The National Secretariat of Planning and Development has prepared a Special Plan for the Northern Border, incorporating the main lines of the Un report • A dialogue on the Special Plan has begun • The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with the European Union, has reactivated the donor’s coordination mechanism at the national level Assessment Mission to Ecuador’s Northern Border Region

  22. UN first initiatives • UNODC has signed new and important projects with the Government • UNHCR has broaden its portfolio of Community Support and Integration Projects • The UNCT will suggest the Government to define and implement a joint development and humanitarian programme in the region (focused on Lago Agrio). • An inter-agency technical group has been established to strengthen coordination of UN activities in the zone Assessment Mission to Ecuador’s Northern Border Region

  23. Thank you for your attention

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