Over the past decade, Ecuador has suffered major natural disasters, hyper-inflation, the collapse of the banking sector, and a coup. Its economy is largely dependent on the export of oil and on remittances from Ecuadorians working abroad. Half the population is unemployed, and a third live below the poverty line. To improve the quality of life for Ecuadorians at the bottom of the economic pyramid, TechnoServe, with the support of the Inter-American Development Bank, is introducing its successful business plan competition. The program, part of a larger, multi-country effort in the Andean region, will help nascent Ecuadorian entrepreneurs turn good ideas into thriving small and medium businesses that generate jobs and markets while also increasing the supply of high-quality, affordable goods and services. The emphasis will be on businesses in the fields of energy, food, health, housing, basic services and information technology.

TechnoServe/Ecuador

ealmeida@tns.org

Vice President and Regional Director, Latin America: Eduardo Almeida
Established: 2007

Practices: Developing Entrepreneurs