Citizens’ Participation Refreshed in Ecuador

How should we engage the disenfranchised? The organization “Participación Ciudadana” is addressing this issue, aiming to involve Ecuadorian society in processes of social transformation. The approach is to inform citizens of news who are often forgotten about by the centric-national media. The project, Participación Ciudadana, is an electronic newspaper produced by regional news agencies in the provinces of Azuay, Guayas, Imbabura and Manabí. The newspaper is published online, featuring topics on politics, jurisdiction, legislation, elections, citizenry, the diaspora, and Latin America.

Participación Ciudadana allows the public to participate in the newspaper, accepting written articles, videos, forum discussions, and online surveys to stir debate in a society that struggles to find space for open criticism. The newspaper is deemed successful with its wide-range of readers seeking local information. A special feature that is popular is the live-streaming debates between experts and stakeholders on government policies.

Further steps are being made to keep the newspaper sustainable, by selling advertising space and seeking support from donors.

April 14, 2012/by actualize

Agriculture, Agriculture Markets, Originally posted on the GBI Portal

Ecuador: eAgri Fairtade Banana Farmers Digitalize

Photography by Glenn Edwards

Ecuadorian banana Fairtrade association La Asociación de Pequeños Productores Bananeros (APPBG) has recognized the potential of going digital.

In Ecuador, the association has received computers and training from Computer Aid to help improve farmers access to the marketplace and improve IT literacy to boost rural livelihoods.

APPBG in el Guabo, is one of the largest Fairtrade associations in Ecuador’s rural El Oro region. With a membership of over 450 small to medium sized banana producers, APPBG export 50,000 boxes of bananas a week, which are then exported to Europe.

Producers who sell through APPBG cooperative are guaranteed a stable price, which covers the cost of production when market prices go down. As a Fairtrade Labeling Organisation (FLO) approved body, APPBG provides an equitable platform from which to trade in international markets. The association also encourages consumers to make ethical considerations when purchasing imported products. FLOs are able to issue the Fairtrade logo, which is now recognized around the world as a guarantee that producers have received a fair price for their goods.

In addition to guaranteed prices for their produce, members also benefit from the association’s social projects. The computers are being used to strengthen Trade Union activity in a country with limited enforcement of worker’s rights and are also being used to improve day-to-day operations within this fast growing enterprise.

Close to Ecuador’s southern boarder, APPBG has established a network of 17 primary schools for the families of its producers. Indigenous children in these schools are now using PCs donated to provide them with the opportunity to become ICT literate.

The integration of ICTs into the APPBG association’s will help streamline their accessibility to the marketplace and the training will help sustain their efforts.

April 11, 2011/by actualize