ECU - Empowering Shuar Communities: Advancing Sustainable Development, Gender Equality, and Forest Conservation Along the Yuquipa River

B0500 - Ecuador - Quito

REPORTING PERIOD   2025- 2026



Narrative























REPORT DATE: 16-06-2026

 

 

  1. Executive Summary

  1. Background


  1. Key Results Achieved

 

  • Level of Reporting:

    Project level results

    Contributing Outcomes:

    Contributing Outputs:

    Progress Note:

    During the period between May 5, 2025, and March 31, 2026, the project “Empowering Shuar Communities: Advancing Sustainable Development, Gender Equality, and Forest Conservation Along the Yuquipa River” advanced in the implementation of comprehensive actions aimed at strengthening the economic, social, cultural, and environmental capacities of the Association of Shuar Centers of Sevilla Don Bosco. This initiative is implemented through three technical components and one communication component. During the reporting period, a total of 565 beneficiaries were reached, of whom 435 were women (77%). With regard to Component 1, “Improved Trade,” key interventions were consolidated to strengthen the Nunkui Market, including improvements in infrastructure, security, access to water and energy, as well as processes to strengthen the administrative, financial, commercial, and sanitary capacities of women entrepreneurs. In addition, a market promotion and positioning strategy was implemented, based on Shuar cultural identity and elements of commercial differentiation, laying the foundation for improved sales performance. Through Component 2, “Interculturality and Gender,” the project advanced in the revitalization of ancestral Shuar knowledge through the mapping of cultural expressions, the identification of theater, music, and dance groups, the selection of educational institutions for knowledge exchange, and the adaptation of a community cultural space. In parallel, a participatory process of awareness-raising, diagnosis, and response to gender-based violence was implemented, which included four workshops, two inter-institutional meetings, and the development of the Local Strategy for the Care of Survivors of Violence in Sevilla Don Bosco. The piloting of this strategy was also initiated through the strengthening of community promoters and the adaptation of a safe space to provide care in such cases. Regarding “Sustainable Production and Restoration” (Component 3), the methodological design of the Farmer Field Schools for sustainable livestock production was completed, with 63 producers registered, four groups formed, and four (4) farms selected as demonstration plots. In addition, the ecological restoration process along the banks of the Yuquipa River was initiated through the acquisition of 5,000 native plants, six community outreach meetings, and the collection of geographic information across 13 properties, where 25.6 hectares were identified for active and passive restoration.In summary, the project achieved a cumulative budget execution rate of 55.48%, with higher execution under Components 2 and 3. This reflects considerable progress in project activities and an estimated technical advancement of approximately 35%.
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  1. Key Challenges Encountered

 

  • Level of Reporting:

    Project level results

    Contributing Outcomes:

    Contributing Outputs:

    Progress Note:

    1) Sustainable production and restoration; 2) strengthening of the Nunkui Market; 3) interculturality and gender; and 4) communication and innovation. In the area of sustainable production, between April and October priority will be given to the implementation of Farmer Field Schools for sustainable livestock production and forest restoration. This will include the delivery of 20 training modules, the application of safeguards and GEDSI micromodules, technical assistance for producers, the delivery and implementation of non-monetary incentives, and continuous monitoring of demonstration farms, restored areas, and tranche-based payments under the Low Value Grant (LVG). Continued field engagement, monitoring of planted, replanted, and maintained hectares, as well as the preparation of final reports on restoration and good practices in sustainable livestock production following the operational closure of activities, are also planned. • In parallel, through October, the Nunkui Market will be further strengthened through new acquisitions and inputs aimed at improving operations and compliance with sanitary standards. These include composting equipment, kitchen utensils, kits for healthy food handling practices, industrial paint, fire extinguishers, and preventive signage. This will be complemented by training processes in marketing, tourism skills, financial education, business games, and first aid, as well as sales monitoring and the preparation of a final report on sales increases. In the final months, a market promotion event with a commercial, cultural, and gender focus is also planned.
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  1. Project Risks and Issues

Risks regarding on time implementation were identified and close follow-up is being implemented to continue programmatic and financial execution.

  1. Lessons Learned

 
  • One of the key lessons learned from this first phase is that sustainable development processes in Indigenous territories are more effective when tangible results are combined with participatory approaches, cultural identity, and community ownership. The actions implemented at the Nunkui Market demonstrate that improvements in infrastructure and commercial promotion yield better outcomes when they are aligned with organizational strengthening processes and symbolic elements that value Shuar culture. This not only improves the material conditions for commercialization, but also strengthens a sense of belonging, collective self-esteem, and the territorial differentiation of the products and services offered.
  • A second lesson is that the prevention of and response to gender-based violence in intercultural contexts require sustained processes of dialogue, trust-building, and multi-level coordination. The experience shows that addressing this issue cannot be limited to isolated informational actions; rather, it must be built upon community listening, validation by local authorities, identification of territorial leadership, and linkage with competent public institutions. The participatory development of a local strategy and the identification of community promoters demonstrate that the sustainability of such initiatives depends on building local capacities and establishing accompaniment mechanisms adapted to the sociocultural context.
  • Finally, the project confirms that effective inclusion of women and meaningful community participation require deliberate operational measures. Targeted calls, flexible schedules, adaptation of activities to women’s daily dynamics, and engagement with already organized groups facilitated more active participation in restoration, commercialization, and violence prevention processes. In addition, the experience shows that early socialization of objectives, benefits, and commitments strengthens trust and improves communities’ willingness to engage in more complex technical actions, such as ecological restoration and the transition toward sustainable production systems.
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  1. Conclusions and Way Forward

Within the interculturality and gender pillar, the schedule foresees continued follow-up of the intercultural component and the operationalization of the gender-based violence response network through field missions, follow-up with community promoters, technical and financial closure activities related to the LVG. • Complementarily, in the communication and innovation pillar, the final project video will be produced, along with signage for demonstration farms and restored areas, and an interactive web map to disseminate project actions and promote the services of the Association of Shuar Centers of Sevilla Don Bosco.

  1. Other Reporting Requirements

 

  • Reporting Requirements

    COMMUNICATION The communication actions implemented during this first phase of the project have been complementary to the promotional components, with the aim of strengthening the image and visibility of the Nunkui Market, as well as ensuring that gender-based violence prevention spaces incorporated distinctive elements, such as backpacks distributed to women. Likewise, communication coverage was provided for the gender-based violence prevention workshops, along with their corresponding dissemination as part of the project’s communication strategy.
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