Overview

Ecuador's political system has been one of the most unstable in South America, with six presidents in the past decade. As successive governments failed to resolve the country's economic and political crises, marked by intense conflict between the president and congress, Ecuadorians have increasingly lost faith in the democratic system. The geographic divide between the coast and the highlands also contributes to a lack of national unity, obstructing dialogue and consensus on issues of national concern.

In November 2006, following more than a year under a turbulent interim administration, Ecuadorian citizens expressed their impatience with the inability of political parties to implement broad social and political reform by electing as president Country Alliance’s (AP) Rafael Correa. President Correa has promised to convene a constituent assembly to redesign the state’s structure and implement political reforms through the development of a new constitution. The AP movement ran no legislative candidates and therefore has no representation in Ecuador’s congress. President Correa and political party leaders will need to find ways to overcome the traditional Executive-Legislative antagonism and constructively address voter concerns or likely face more instability, civil unrest and decreased confidence in Ecuador’s already struggling democratic system.

NDI Activities

The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) is currently working with reform-minded leaders of emerging and long-standing Ecuadorian political organizations across the ideological spectrum to promote political responsiveness and representation of citizen concerns as well as encourage more collaborative relationships between civil society and political organizations.

In February 2006, NDI re-established a field office in Ecuador to help political organizations with reform efforts, development of platforms on key issues of national concern and to encourage cooperation between political organizations and civil society. As part of this initiative, NDI commissioned a series of focus groups to provide decision-makers with information on citizen opinions on key issues and perceptions of political organizations. In 2006 NDI presented the results of the focus group research to partner political organizations and consulted on party responses. To read the findings from this research click here.

NDI has conducted trainings on party transparency, communications and the political participation of women and youth.

Political party representatives present their party platforms at NDI's September 2006 Multi-Party Forum

NDI provides parties comparative experiences on party transparency and internal democracy by sharing long term party reform recommendations and sponsoring regional discussions on international best party practices. In 2007, through platform development exercises and cross-sector forums, NDI will promote increased collaboration between political and civil society organizations to better respond to citizen concerns. NDI is also supporting civil society initiatives that provide political parties and the public opportunities to identify potential solutions to Ecuador's national problems.

NDI is collaborating with local civil society organizations to organize public forums to provide an opportunity for political parties, civil society organizations and concerned citizens to discuss national political reform issues.

Past NDI Programs

In 2002, at the request of several Ecuadorian civil society organizations, NDI assisted Ecuadorian civic leaders to develop a national organization to engage citizens in the electoral process and promote political dialogue through a national network of nonpartisan volunteers. NDI opened a field office in Quito and drew on its global experience working with domestic monitoring groups to assist the newly formed group Citizen Participation Ecuador (Participación Ciudadana Ecuador-PCE).

This initiative laid the groundwork for the consolidation of a national volunteer network that is an important asset to address critical issues facing Ecuadorian democracy, such as promoting dialogue and fostering broad-based citizen participation and governmental accountability.

With technical assistance from NDI, PCE organized the first-ever nationwide domestic election observation in Ecuador, in which 4,000 Ecuadorian citizens monitored the 2002 presidential elections. In addition, PCE's youth volunteer network encouraged nationwide dialogue and participation in the country's first citizen education campaign on punctuality, uniting coastal and highland Ecuadorians alike.

This young and highly respected civic organization continues to inspire citizens to participate in and strengthen Ecuador’s democracy.

Contact Information