On Thursday, 4 February 2021, the Republic of Ecuador and the Swiss Confederation signed the bilateral cooperation agreement to implement phase 1 of the regional project «Andes Resilient to Climate Change in Ecuador».

Martin Jaggi, Head of Cooperation (SDC) opened the ceremony and highlighted: «Andes Resilientes is a new chapter in the action to address climate change since we started working on climate change and environment activities a decade ago in the Andes. This new chapter has two foundations: the Paris Agreement, and the countries that have defined concrete targets to address climate change. As part of international cooperation, SDC hopes to move from pilot experiences to the institutionalisation of adaptation measures, in other words the consolidation of public policies based on proven solutions.”

“We welcome Ecuador’s firm decision to move towards strengthening the resilience and capacity to adapt to climate change of poor and vulnerable rural communities; strengthening and connecting public and private capacity to support these communities, to adapt their livelihoods (agriculture and livestock), with the objective of improving their food and water security and the sustainable management of the natural resources that keep them” he said.

The Swiss Ambassador to Ecuador, Rita Hämmerli-Weschke highlighted Switzerland’s commitment to sustainable development and said: «Switzerland is aware that climate change is an even bigger issue than this pandemic. I want to stress that for Swiss international cooperation, people are at the centre. That is why it is important to highlight the ownership and active cooperation of SDC’s partners in Ecuador since the planning stage of the project. The Embassy of Switzerland in Ecuador and SDC would like to extend our special thanks to these partners».

“The signing of this agreement shows us the opportunities for working in coordination, and that this responds to the great challenge of climate change. Facing it requires multi-sector and multi-level work, strengthening our capacities to invest and reduce future losses, increasing productivity by generating more resilient systems, and increasing social and environmental benefits” the Ambassador said.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility, Luis Gallegos Chiriboga, said that Ecuador and Switzerland had had an excellent cooperation relationship for many years through many cooperation projects, and is especially grateful that this support is continuing despite the pandemic. «The friendship between Switzerland and Ecuador is long-standing and has grown stronger in recent years. Switzerland is a very important partner for Ecuador» he said.

“Ecuador recognises climate change as the main threat to life on the planet and is aware that if the current trend of increasing global temperature in several regions, including the Andean region, continues, the alteration of climate events such as extreme rain or droughts will intensify, with serious impacts».  He also pointed out that Ecuador remains fully committed to the Paris Agreement, and promotes the search for consensus around ambitious goals for climate action to move forward under the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities, incorporating a rights-based approach with attention to the poorest and most vulnerable groups and the involvement of all relevant actors.

He finished by saying: «Today we celebrate the signing of this agreement and we hope that this will be the starting point for new cooperation projects in Ecuador, since development cooperation is an important pillar for Ecuador in its on-going efforts to achieve sustainable development, protect people and the planet, and eradicate poverty and discrimination in all its forms and dimensions. I wish the project success and reiterate the Foreign Ministry’s commitment to continue supporting these initiatives».

Ambassador Rita Hämmerli-Weschke of the Swiss Confederation and Ambassador Luis Gallegos Chiriboga of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility of Ecuador then signed the Bilateral Agreement.

About Resilient Andes ( Andes Resilientes) en Ecuador

Andes Resilient to Climate Change is a regional project promoted by SDC’s Global Climate Change and Environment Programme and facilitated by the HELVETAS Swiss Inter-cooperation – Avina Foundation consortium in partnership with the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and in strategic alliance with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

In Ecuador, the Ministry of Environment and Water (MAAE), the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) and the Ministry of Economic and Social Inclusion (MIES) are the lead national counterparts. These three entities make up the National Technical Committee of the project in Ecuador, which has elaborated and approved the Andes Resilient Action Plan in the country, which responds to prioritised strategic needs and demands.

I In Ecuador, the Ministry of Environment and Water (MAAE), the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) and the Ministry of Economic and Social Inclusion (MIES) are the lead national counterparts and compose the National Technical Committee of the project in Ecuador, which has formulated and approved Ecuador’s Andes Resilient Action Plan, which responds to priority strategic needs and demands.

This articulated, multi-stakeholder and multi-level action will ensure that the priority activities are integrated into key government initiatives, focused on vulnerable and poor Andean rural communities of family farmers, and aligned with the climate change adaptation measures and the enabling conditions of the Ecuador’s Nationally Determined Contributions in agriculture and water.

The expected impacts are the reduction of vulnerabilities of Andean subsistence family-farming communities, by strengthening of national and sub-national climate change adaptation policies, scaling up good adaptation practices, adaptation monitoring and shared regional learning.

To learn more about Resilient Andes, please watch the following video.

Related articles:
HELVETAS Swiss Inter-cooperation (press release)
NdP Ecuadorean Ministry of Foreign Affairs (press release)
NdP AVINA Foundation (press release)

More information:
Fact sheet Regional Project: Resilient Andes to Climate Change
Brochure Regional Project: Resilient Andes to Climate Change – Ecuador (spanish)