Support for strengthening social policies in Ecuador

(Quito, May 11, 2009).- A non-reimbursable technical cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Economic and Social Inclusion (MIES) and the Andean Development Corporation CAF was signed in the CAF offices in Quito. The agreement will strengthen the ministry by implementing an integrated planning, monitoring and evaluation system for the programs attached to the ministry.

Present at the signing were the minister of Economic and Social Inclusion, Jeannette Sánchez, and for CAF director-representative in Ecuador Luis Paláu-Rivas and Lenin Parreño, CAF economist for Ecuador.

The CAF representative spoke of the importance of supporting this ministry whose objectives are to strengthen institutions in the work of evaluating social projects in order to determine their impact on the quality of life of Ecuadorians.

Implementation of the Integrated Planning System will integrate all the currently dispersed information, creating a strategic tool which the ministry will use to direct, plan, monitor and evaluate the results of each program or project.

The Ministry is responsible for formulating, directing and executing state policy on protection of minors, women, youth, the elderly, the handicapped, indigenous peoples and campesinos.