Ecuador

Facts and Figures

IOM Member State since 1959

Capital: Quito
Population (2011): 14.7 million
Area: 272,045 sq km
Major Languages: Spanish, indigenous languages
Currency: US dollar (USD)
GDP per Capita PPP (2010): USD 8,028
HDI Rank (2011): 83 of 187
Remittances (2011 estimate): USD 2,711 million
Net Migration Rate (2010-2015): -2 migrants /1,000 population
Immigrants (2010): 2.9%
Women as a Percentage of Immigrants (2010): 48.4%
Population under 15 (2011): 29.9%
Adult HIV Prevalence (2009): 0.4%

Sources and Definitions

Latest News


Overview

The economic crisis of the late 1990s, along with other factors in present-day society (mass media, Internet and migratory networks), unleashed unprecedented international labour-related migration from every region of Ecuador. This recent wave diversified destinations, making Spain the favorite, followed by the United States and Italy. Although there are no specific studies, some sources estimate that during the decade from 1996 to 2006 some 1 to 1.5 million persons have left Ecuador, making the total figure for Ecuadorians residing abroad about 2 million at present.

The economic crisis of the late 1990s, along with other factors in present-day society (mass media, Internet and migratory networks), unleashed unprecedented international labour-related migration from every region of Ecuador. This recent wave diversified destinations, making Spain the favorite, followed by the United States and Italy. Although there are no specific studies, some sources estimate that during the decade from 1996 to 2010 around 1.5 million persons have left Ecuador, making the total figure for Ecuadorians residing abroad about 2 million at present.

It should be noted that Ecuador features not only high rates of emigration; in fact, it currently plays all three migratory roles: country of origin, of destination, and transit for migrants. The dollarization of the economy, along with other regional factors on the sub-continent, have made Ecuador the destination of migrants especially from Colombia and Peru. During the last few years, according to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) the country has received approximately 130,000 Colombians in search of international protection. Between 2000 and 2010, more than 100,000 applications from refugees were received and 52,000 persons were granted refugee status; of these, 98 per cent are Colombians.

IOM has been present in Ecuador since 1965, developing diverse projects and programmes to support the efforts of the Ecuadorian government to improve the population’s living conditions and manage the migration dynamics.

Movement, Emergency and Post-crisis Migration Management

A number of IOM's programmes, developed in cooperation with the UNHCR and the host governments, stem from the increasing number of Colombians in search of international protection who have migrated to Ecuador.

Other programmes provide assistance to Colombian refugees, asylum seekers, persons in search of international protection and the local communities that receive these groups along Colombia's borders with Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama. IOM Ecuador participated as Cluster lead for shelters within the United Nations Emergency Team (UNETE). Also, IOM through UNETE is supporting the Technical Secretary of International Cooperation (SETECI by its Spanish acronym) for the elaboration of the Emergency Response Protocol.

Since 2006 the IOM electoral observation mission, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Electoral Council, concentrated its efforts in the cities where the most Ecuadorians had registered to vote out of the country.

Main Projects

  • Resettlement and Family Reunification Programmes for Refugees
  • Emergency Assistance Programme for Persons in Search of International Protection by Conflict Along the Colombian Border with Ecuador
  • IOM's Emergency Humanitarian Assistance
  • International observation of out-of-country voting

Migration Health

As part of the Emergency Assistance Programme for Persons in Search of International Protection (PSIP), IOM developed programme focusing on sexual and reproductive health as well as HIV/AIDS education starting in August 2007. This programme is directed to reach the Colombian community in northern Ecuador as well as the local Ecuadorian population.

In 2008, IOM Ecuador, in coordination with IOM Colombia, implemented the project for the Prevention of and Response to Gender-Based Violence (GVB) in Internally Displaced Persons and PSIP Communities. During 2010 the GVB project was re-implemented. Both of these projects were oriented towards the strengthening of existing assistance capacities as well as improving health care and education in these areas. For 2011, this project will continue and will include the city of Lago Agrio, in Sucumbios province.

Main Projects

  • Pilot Project Prevention of and Response to Gender-Based Violence in PSIPs and Local Community, San Lorenzo, Esmeraldas Province
  • Pilot Project Focus on Sexual and Reproductive Health as well as HIV/AIDS, San Lorenzo, Limones y Tambillo, Esmeraldas Province
  • Project Prevention of and Response to Gender-Based Violence in PSIPs and Local Community Lago Agrio, Sucumbios Province
  • Project Focus on Sexual and Reproductive Health as well as HIV/AIDS, Borbón, Palmareal, Esmeraldas Province; and, General Farfán, Palma Roja and Lago Agrio, in Sucumbios Province

Migration and Development

Donors

IOM's Integrated Programme for Municipal Development provides communities with basic infrastructure such as water and sanitation, and productive infrastructure such as bridges and roads, and sanitary education. Also, IOM provide trainning in items related to sustainability of the systems for civil society organizations and local governments in Northern and Southern Borders of Ecuador.

As part of the Joint Programmes developed in close cooperation with UN agencies in Ecuador, OIM participates in the Youth, Employment and Migration Programme, which aims at adopting and implementing public policies in order to contribute to the development of decent employment for youths in 3 Southern provinces of Ecuador, The Programme is led by the National Secretary for Migrants and has a duration of 3 years (2009-2012).

Main Projects

  • Integrated Programme for Municipal Development
  • Youth, Employment and Migration Programme

Regulating Migration

Programmes developed jointly with other IOM missions benefit Ecuadorians who have migrated and wish to voluntarily return to Ecuador. OIM Ecuador establishes a system for reintegration; accompaniment, follow-up and monitoring to each case of voluntary return aimed to attaining that the returnees are included again under conditions that guarantee their stability and that contribute to their economy and that of their families. OIM Ecuador provides technical assistance that contemplates in some cases, the analysis for the formulation of the business plan and the implementation of the same in terms that they generate indicators of self-sustainability.

Other programmes aim to provide travel documents to Ecuadorians through a system that guarantees adherence to international standards of security and quality, as set by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

In order to continue and expand the activities of the Program to Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP) in Ecuador (2006-2009), the United States Government, acting through USAID, signed on September 17, 2010, a new award with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for the period of thirty six months.

The Programme to Combat Trafficking in Persons in Ecuador seeks to support the implementation of the restructured National Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons, which is the main tool that the Government of Ecuador has to Combat TIP. The Plan offers an integrated approach based on prevention of trafficking, protection for victims and prosecution of traffickers. It promotes comprehensive and coordinated actions among the different state institutions part of the Plan as well as a better coordination with civil society organizations and the donor community.

To meet it goals, the Program has established the following results:

  • Key GOE institutions have the capacity to implement the National Plan to Combat TIP
  • Local governments in target cities design and implement policies to support the National Anti TIP Plan
  • Selected shelters provide services that prevent re-victimization and ensure reintegration and conditions that guarantee VOT’s rights.

This fiscal year (2011), approximately 15 victims of trafficking (VOTs) will be assisted, 60 people will be trained on TIP related issues, three cooperation agreements will be signed and two shelters will be strengthened to provide better services to VOTs.

IOM also supports stranded migrants through a project that aims (a) to provide flexible and quick humanitarian assistance to stranded migrants in difficult circumstances for whom support is not readily available from existing programmes, and (b) to derive, from the information collected in providing such assistance, a clearer picture of changing trends in irregular migration in order to assist the international community in formulating counter-measures that can be used in the future.

The Migratory Legalization of Peruvians Citizens is the result of the Agreement for the Legalization of the Labour and Migratory Status of Ecuadorians and Peruvian Nationals in the Border Region, signed between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador and Peru in December 2006. The Government requested the support of IOM Ecuador in the implementation of an information campaign in the provinces of Cañar, Azuay, and El Oro to disseminate key information on this process.

Main Projects

  • Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration Programmes
  • Modernization of Passport Issuance System for Ecuador
  • Counter Trafficking in Persons
  • Direct Assistance for Victims of Trafficking
  • Humanitarian Assistance for Stranded Migrants
  • Migratory Legalization of Peruvian Citizens

Facilitating Migration

Donors

The Centrum fur Internationale Migration und Entwicklung (CIM) is a human resources provider with a development mission. CIM manages the Integrated Experts Programme, recruiting qualified professionals and specialists from Germany or European Union Member Status to work in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Central or Eastern Europe. The experts, all of whom meet high standards of professional competency and have years of experience in their field as well as social and intercultural abilities work with contracts of one to six years in duration.

IOM offers the possibility for students who want to continue their studies abroad to obtain an air ticket with a preferential rate.

Training Modules on Labour Migration Management will be implemented by IOM on a regional level. The objective is to improve the existing capacities of countries of origin, transit and final destination in the management of labour migration for the mutual benefit of countries.

Main Projects

  • Integrated Experts Programme
  • Programme for discount air tickets
  • Training Modules on Labour Migration Management
  • Development of tools to increase governmental capacities in Latin America and the Caribbean

Migration Policy and Research

IOM is an active participant in the Working Group on Labour and Migration, formed in September 2005 as a result of an agreement formalized between the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the Inter-American Observatory for Migrants' Rights.

The aims of the Working Group on Labour and Migration are:

  • To promote proposals aimed at enhancing the social and legal status of migrant women and men.
  • To exchange successful experiences in social, legal and labor areas relating to migration.
  • To foster opportunities to discuss and review draft bills aimed at reforming domestic legislation on labour migration, in coordination with the National Congress.
  • To encourage compliance with the principles, legal norms and recommendations of international conventions regulating migrants' rights.

With the support of the IOM Development Fund (formerly the 1035 Facility), IOM Ecuador provides ongoing technical assistance to officials of the Government of Ecuador. As part of a regional IOM Development Fund project with Bolivia, it seeks to contribute to civil society’s participation in the design and implementation of Ecuador’s migration policy and foster dialogue and technical cooperation on migration between the Government of Bolivia and the Government of Ecuador. The project also focuses on the implementation of comprehensive awareness raising dialogues on migration affairs and policy with civil society in both countries, while it raises the knowledge base in both countries through the development of research studies that will allow both governments to count with baseline and benchmark information on immigration and migration policy.

In addition, IOM provides technical assistance to the Government of Ecuador in several spheres and issues related to migration.

Main Projects

  • Working Group on Labour and Migration
  • Strengthening the Development and Implementation of Bolivia’s and Ecuador’s International Migration Policies

Last updated:
Main text: 11 March 2011
Facts and figures: May 2012