Academy for Educational Development

Although the country has sound agricultural production, 47 percent of it citizens are underemployed and over half of the population lives below the poverty line. This combination of high poverty levels and a lack of economic opportunity has caused many in the northern and southern regions of the country to turn to illicit activities to improve their economic status; Ecuador is located between two of the world’s largest producers of coca and cocaine. The objective of Ecuador LBD is to advance opportunities for families along the northern and southern border areas of the country to participate in the licit private sector. Specifically the program is supporting the expansion of private enterprises and strengthening local producer groups and associations to rapidly generate income and employment in these targeted regions.


















Contact: Nick Wedeman