The United States and Ecuador have formalized an agreement that will allocate more than $40 million to support community development projects in Ecuador. This funding is part of the Development Objective Agreement (DOAG), initially signed in 2020 and recently extended to 2030.
The U.S. Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing this financial support as an investment rather than a loan or debt. The funds will be directed towards projects implemented by non-governmental organizations and the private sector, focusing on environmental protection, women's economic development, citizen security, and enhancing basic services.
Michael J. Fitzpatrick, U.S. Ambassador to Ecuador, highlighted the importance of this investment during the signing ceremony: “Today we are investing more than $40 million to support Ecuadorians’ priorities related to the environment, citizen security and democracy, always focusing on the most vulnerable populations in this beautiful country.”
The ceremony was attended by several officials including Gustavo Manrique, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador; Daniel Sanchez-Bustamante, USAID Director in Ecuador; among others.
This agreement marks a significant increase in U.S. contributions towards Ecuador's development objectives since its inception.