Ecuador

DGRV is active nationwide in the Ecuadorian cooperative sector. The aim of the project is to improve the income situation of micro-entrepreneurs and family farms, as well as to secure the savings of members of savings and credit cooperatives.

At makro level, the DGRV team in Ecuador advises the supervisor of the cooperative sector (SEPS) on legislative proposals and provides assistance in staff training.

At meso level, DGRV works together with the central bank of the Ecuadorian savings and credit cooperatives, FINANCOOP. FINANCOOP strengthens its member cooperatives using DGRV tools in the areas of good governance and social accountability.

At micro level, DGRV works directly with the savings and credit cooperatives. Through a range of software tools, such as the MicroScore (a program to evaluate credit risks for microcredits), DGRV supports the credit unions in their daily work. All DGRV tools used by savings and credit cooperatives aim to promote financial inclusion, especially for the rural population, and to ensure the proper and efficient management of the savings entrusted to credit unions. In doing so, DGRV makes an important contribution to the stability of the Ecuadorian financial system.

In addition, DGRV supports the savings and credit cooperatives in establishing a green credit line. The term “green credit line” refers to a range of financial products such as loans, which are specifically designed to finance investments that make a positive contribution to environmental and climate protection. Also, at micro-level and in cooperation with the credit cooperative “Vis Andes”, DGRV supports associations of family farms in the province of Cotopaxi. By networking several groups and the joint purchase and sale of goods, the families involved in the project should be able to increase their income.