Annual Report 2011

Presentation

7 A shared task8 The Pause, a possibility of peace in the world

Human Development with FocusingOur new social development proposal

11 Diffusing Focusing: workshops, literacy-ers12 FECD’s new working areas14 New initiatives16 Human Development with Focusing in social development projects

Without violence, listening to ourselves with a pause

19 From the pause to non-violence, Chimborazo and Esmeraldas20 FECD seeks to eradicate gender violence in the Northern Border Region22 Reducing violence in the Chimborazo communities

Productivity and growth

27 Cocoa, felt development for producers in the Ecuadorian coastal region30 The high altitude coffee productive chain

Sustainable tourism 35 Ecological and community tourism, a sustainable alternative for the Amazon Region37 The Tourism Solidarity Network on the Banks of the Napo River - REST

International alliances with a human base

41 International alliances

43 Audit Report

Index

Presentation

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Annual Report 2011

FECD is a permanently expanding institu-tion whose ongoing challenge is to create the new ideas and tools required to open up an innovative routes toward the cons-truction of a more equitable society. Our work has been founded upon the efforts undertaken with human beings, persona-lly, individually and en-masse. This can only be achieved by fine-tuning those tools that enable us to attend to each individual, just as they are, in a simple manner. This simple and straightforward approach has enabled us to reach out to many commu-nities and families.

This document compiles the experien-ces of a year full of learning and achieve-ments, the ingredients that nourish our dreams and renovate us so we can conti-nue to pursue the route we have mapped out over the last six years. We feel we have progressed in accordance with our institutional mission, based on institutio-nal values that are lived at every moment.

Joining us in this task have been the lo-cal and international individuals and ins-titutions that share our values and goals, enabling us to spread our work beyond the borders of Ecuador - especially in the field of human development and organic farming. Not only have these alliances helped us to consolidate and strengthen ourselves, but have also served as a chal-lenge to improve upon our achievements at every moment.

Abelardo PachanoPresident of the Board of Governors of FECD

A sharedtask

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For FECD, year 2011 provided us with the space required to consolidate our vision of social development, with special empha-sis on the human being. We have mana-ged to validate our working methodolo-gy that seeks to provide individuals with spheres for learning, especially commu-nity leaders and institutions, with respect to the pause and attentive listening.

The results have encouraged and excited us. Our workshop participants have been able to find, within themselves, the wealth of possibilities they possess to create and relate to their surroundings, at a family, social, professional and environmental le-vel, i.e. all those elements that their acti-vities require them to relate to or become involved with. This base has helped us to build solid alliances and new lines of ac-tion, enabling us to anticipate growth, both locally and internationally.

The FECD way of working, based on the individual efforts of their co-workers, has been endorsed and supported scientifi-cally by the creators of Focusing, Eugene Gendlin and Mary Hendricks. Eugene and Mary, have contributed with their joint de-liberations, and provided options for diffu-sion among the international community.

The basis of this simple yet complex pro-cess is the pause, a space in which each individual has the opportunity to find him or herself, to attend to that which is inside him or her. It is the route to authenticity, an option for peace for the world.

The Pause,a possibility of peace in the world

William HernándezExecutive Director

Human Development with Focusing

Our new social development proposal

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Annual Report 2011

Diffusing Focusing:workshops, literacy-ers

FECD has established a broad and am-bitious diffusion program for Focusing in Ecuador, with an international scope. The methodology developed by us, which pro-vides individuals with the space to con-template their internal feelings that arise from the pause, has attracted the atten-tion of various institutions, organizations and individuals who have either identified or intuited the accessible possibilities offered to improve various aspects of the human condition and organizational management: self-esteem, confidence, communication, authenticity, creativity, productivity, leadership, among others.

Simple workshops, of two to three hours in which between twenty and forty people participate, provide access to the pause as a space for self-attention. These work-shops involve straightforward exercises that enable each individual to experience their internal feelings, concealed behind intellectual processes or the conscious-ness. That is, the exercises provide the space in which the participants encounter the means to see their complete selves, complementing knowledge or intellect and thus accessing the accumulated wis-dom expressed bodily. The whole pro-cess is undertaken within a context of respect for everything that arises there.

The results of this discovery, in each in-dividual who manages to listen to his or

herself, is reflected in the manifest chan-ges of behavior, attitude – and even in thought – and in which the focus is on life, peace and respect for oneself, for others and for the environment in general.

In this respect, FECD has concentrated its efforts on working with those leaders who have the opportunity to diffuse the process and on trainers-in-training who can transmit their own experiences to more numerous groups. While priority has been given to working with institutio-nal partners, we have also responded to the interest of various public sector, civil society and private institutions. Growing demand has given rise to the need to ge-nerate a specific unit that can provide a consistent and timely response.

In response, we have set up training pro-cesses for “literacy-ers of the pause”, “trainers-in-training” and “trainers” ba-sed on lived experiences and the diffusion of Focusing. The system includes proces-ses designed to maintain coherence and quality of literacy-ers based on rigorous updating parameters and ongoing dis-semination. This ensures that diffusion of the “pause” and “attentive listing” is locked into the scientific, philosophic and methodological base while providing on-going updates on the evolution, concepts and new methods of diffusion and spaces for learning.

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During 2011, FECD significantly ex-panded its sphere of action in working areas that strengthen, complement and consolidate our development approach, with the aim of improving the living conditions of the people, especially the most vulnerable.

The changing context of international cooperation, in which priorities, strate-gies and resources are directed towards geographical, sector and thematic areas not always coinciding with our priorities, structure or specialization have obliged us to re-learn and continually generate new ways of fulfilling our role.

Thus, the emphasis on human develop-ment, working with individuals in accor-dance with their particular circumstan-ces and thereby generating spaces for self-knowledge and self-assessment,

has enabled us to open up greater, sim-pler and complementary opportunities and lines of work.

Our new lines of action include an allian-ce based on the human, environmental and social values held in common bet-ween FECD and the “Istituto per la Cer-tificazione Etica e Ambientale” – ICEA of Italy. This alliance between not-for-pro-fit organizations focuses on providing services and support to help grow the productive sectors of Ecuador as well as promoting environmentally sustainable forms of production. Characterized by its distinctive “human face” value, the alliance is committed to reinvest in so-cial development actions.

In another sphere, 2011 saw us take the first steps towards setting up an entity with a business outlook that enables the

FECD’s newworking areas

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smallholders to place their products in Ecuadorian and international markets with the support of FECD.

These lines of action have been under-pinned through the development of in-ternational relations, ratified through alliances with entities that share our de-velopment focus and values. In particu-lar, we wish to acknowledge and thank

the joint work undertaken with ICEA, the Focusing Institute in New York, FUNDE-SO, IFOAM, UNIMOS and Espezia.

Within Ecuador, we have also reaffirmed old alliances while forming new ones. The work undertaken with our local partners is highlighted in the following pages.

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-vince, the Unión de Asociaciones Ar-tesanales “Eloy Alfaro” continues to consolidate the productive chain of fine aroma cocoa while strengthening links with international markets by trading quality organic cocoa, reco-vering the local “fine aroma” variety and, shortly, by undertaking direct exports. Furthermore, FECD is pro-viding support in the zone to promote the “Cocoa Route” in an attempt to as-

sociate local initiatives and the zone’s natural and cultural attractions with cocoa production.

Connections have been created and maintained with highly influential local players such as CORPO Esme-raldas, enabling more organizations, communities and institutions within the province to benefit from Human Development processes. The effects, directly correlated to a decrease in

New Initiatives

The conclusion of the Productive Frontiers Project on December 2010, has given rise to new initiatives within the majority of the areas of intervention, looking to consolidate and extend the scope of the achieved results. FECD continues to support these areas through the training of Human Development leaders based on the pause and through actions that look to consolidate productive chains, with an environmental and organiza-tional process focus.

The Human Development work, begun in the sub-projects, has attracted interest and provided a link with other local players.

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violence and improvements in com-munications and productivity, were immediately perceived by the work-shop participants.

With support from FIE, work continues with 1,400 families in Sucumbíos in ac-tivities involving the strengthening of cocoa, coffee and sugar cane chains. Increased productivity and improved marketing and processing conditions are reflected in the increased family income of the participants. Similarly, the provision of equipment and tech-nical assistance has enabled sugar cane transformation processes to be improved while enhancing the quality of the sugar loaf offer.

been undertaken in reducing gen-der violence through the use of non-violent communication based on the pause. Support also continues to be provided for the production of Andean grains as an economic alternative.

province have enabled FECD’s support to be extended to sectors within the provinces of Manabí, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas and the Manga del Cura area, thereby consolidating the

associative marketing of fine aroma cocoa, while work in Human Develop-ment has boosted the results obtained in the zone’s development processes.

players have been strengthened in an effort to mobilize additional resour-ces, consolidate Human Development processes and market community tourism. This task is being under-taken by the kichwas communities lo-cated along the banks of the Napo Ri-ver. Work has also been undertaken on consolidating the productive cocoa chain.

Using the same continuity approach in actions initiated in the Productive Frontiers project, currently being un-dertaken in the provinces of Napo, Carchi and Imbabura, FECD continues working together with its local part-ners and new actors, as well as with sector governments, in the consolida-tion of the productive cocoa chains and community tourism. Emphasis has also been placed on strengthening lo-cal capacity to deal with the reality of the border zones and the dissemina-tion of Human Development with Fo-cusing at community and institutional levels.

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Human Development with Focusing in social development projectsThe work undertaken during recent years using the Human Development methodo-logy has underscored how this process complements and drives cooperation for development efforts at various levels. Vul-nerable groups have been truly empowe-red, spurring their creativity to design solutions and fine-tune their awareness when dealing with issues of equity, while at the same time, providing for authentic, felt and peaceful communication.

All FECD projects are based on incorpora-ting and diffusing the “literacy of the pau-se” practice. During the year, we initiated strengthening processes for local insti-

Santo Domingo, Chimborazo and Sucum-bíos through low-investment, high-impact projects. These projects, based on Human Development with Focusing, seek to re-solve the difficulties faced by individuals when searching for spaces that provide an accessible, simple and friendly means of practicing the pause.

The technical teams being trained as “lite-racy-ers” of the pause are actively involved

in the economic-productive, environmen-tal and social activities of the participating groups. By learning the pause and liste-ning attentively, the participating groups acquire space for greater productivity whi-le harmonizing their relationship with the environment and society.

An important milestone in our “literacy of the pause” work has been the shared vision achieved between FECD´s part-ners and the local actors, and the roles for diffusion they have assumed. At the same time, we have strengthened our alliances with entities such as CEDERE-NA, CORPO Esmeraldas and Fundación Ascender, among others.

The huge response triggered by these projects has enabled us to reach out to approximately 2,000 associations and community leaders, sector governments and companies through the learning of the pause and attentive listening. We are encouraged to believe that the replicas generated in individual spheres of action are evidence that the seeds sown have germinated in fertile soils.

Without violence, listening to ourselves with a pause

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One immediate result of the continued application of the pause, as a space for listening to oneself, is a reduction of all forms of violence: physical, ver-bal or implicit in certain behavior. Building on this practice, the work undertaken – especially in the ru-ral communities of Chimborazo as well as in various organizations and communities in Esmeraldas – has generated tangible results in the behavior of both men and women, in their family, association, orga-nization or labor space. Based on just one workshop of two to three hours, many people have discovered the means of establishing a pause, listening to their felt sense and responding positively, creatively and extensively to stimuli.

Sixteen workshops have been held in Esmeraldas and thirty-six in Chimborazo, attended by more than 1,300 participants – principally leaders of local orga-

testimonies, inevitably positive, are becoming ever-more frequent. FECD undertook a survey in Chim-borazo in which witnesses vouched for the changes generated. Growing interest has also been shown by leaders and local authorities in embarking upon the establishment of more non-violent territories in different zones throughout the country: Sucumbíos, Napo, Cañar, Bolívar, Carchi and Manabí, among others.

Once this practice, now increasingly disseminated, becomes permanent and widespread, we will have achieved our dream of creating violence-free spaces characterized by production, prosperity and cordiali-ty where the people can live, build and grow.

From the pause to non-violence,Chimborazo and Esmeraldas

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without Violence for Producer Women and Girls in the Rurual Zones of the Provinces of Esmeraldas and Sucumbíos” project concluded this year with promising re-sults.

The goal of this initiative was to promo-te the eradication of gender violence, a syndrome that has affected mestiza wo-men and children, as well as indigenous and afro-descendants in the rural zones of Esmeraldas and Sucumbíos. The most notable accomplishments include the strengthening of women’s organizations in Esmeraldas and Sucumbíos. By dis-seminating women’s rights and mecha-nisms for application of the law on gender

violence, affected women have begun to generate changes in the pattern of discri-minatory violence.

This change has been achieved by con-centrating our efforts on training 68 local promoters in:

1. Self-esteem, identify, gender equality and rights; 2. Domestic violence and sexual offenses; and 3. Women’s economic rights.

The promoters then provided instruction to 3,883 women, educating them on their rights and the mechanisms they can de-ploy to support victims of sexual offenses.

FECD seeks to eradicategender violence in the Northern Border Region

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The capacities of local governments, jus-tice operators and service providers in charge of dealing with gender violence in Esmeraldas and Sucumbíos, have also been strengthened through project ac-tions. A total of 83 justice operators (41 men and 42 women) have been trained in

-vince. Additional training has also been provided to 60 local authorities (35 men and 25 women) in gender, rights, demo-cracy and public policy. In Sucumbíos, the technical team of the Sucumbíos Fe-deration of Women established care faci-lities to attend to the victims of domestic violence within the province, while servi-ce quality has been improved through an ongoing planning and training process.

Another notable project achievement was the drafting and approval of a municipal ordnance for the prevention and penali-zing of gender violence in the Eloy Alfaro canton of Esmeraldas. A subsequent mu-nicipal ordnance issued by the Municipa-

lity of Sucumbíos approved the creation of the Department of Gender Equity with a remit to provide attention and prevent violence against women.

A similar key initiative was the estab-lishment of a base line for gender and domestic violence in Esmeraldas and Sucumbíos, previously non-existent, and that now serves as a source of informa-tion and a tool for planning and decision-making.

Although the project execution period has expired, the implemented actions have enabled local leaders to continue with their work of eradicating gender violence in the Northern Border region.

This project was financed principally by The UN Trust Fund to End Violen-ce Against Women, carried out by FECD through the Centro Ecuatoriano de Desa-

Esmeraldas and by the Sucumbíos Fede-ration of Women (FMS) in Sucumbíos.

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A sound family economy takes into ac-count the realities of both men and women and the satisfaction of their needs. Incor-porating women as part of the economic space is not only a key factor in building such an economy but also leads to decrea-sed poverty, gender violence and women’s economic exclusion indicators.

During year 2011, work was undertaken with 15 communities in the cantons of Guamote and Colta, in the Chimborazo province, based on non-violent commu-nication with Focusing. This innovative methodology, which focuses on intensifi-cation and growth, was undertaken with the leaders of the zone’s communities

and organizations. FECD’s intervention has achieved noteworthy results among the 527 participating families in terms of communication, creating awareness of women’s rights, production and marketing the zone’s produce.

Non-violent communication with Focusing

Focusing provides for integrated commu-nication between people through respect-ful listening and encountering our internal wisdom, all of which arise from the pause. This process, once incorporated into the daily life of the practitioner, increases self-esteem, productivity and creativity as well

Reducing violence in the Chimborazo communities

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as extending options when faced with per-sonal and organizational challenges.

Participants attained non-violent commu-nication with Focusing though development with the project, which hosted a number of experiential workshops of two to three hours that, in addition to stimulating dis-cussions on women’s rights and equality between men and women, provided a space in which situations and experiences related to abuse of economic rights and domestic violence were shared and accompanied. Time was also devoted to dealing with the injustices and ill-treatment faced by wo-men when marketing their agricultural or livestock products. These spaces served to introduce or strengthen application of the pause when dealing with personal and te-chnical issues.

Various results on gender violence

In order to measure the project’s influen-ce in changing attitudes, perspectives and actions with respect to gender violence, we carried out a survey of 80 individuals (81% women, 19% men). According to the re-sults, 53% of those surveyed have, at some time, been the victim of domestic violence and 85% know someone who has suffered from such violence.

Of those consulted, 99% have heard of the pause, although only 50% of interviewees had participated in non-violent commu-nication with Focusing workshops. This data evidences the work carried out by those men and women who have shared their experiences in their communities.

Indeed, 96% of participants believe that the pause has helped reduce or eliminate violence and approximately 25% of those surveyed would recommend other people to use the pause to deal with situations of domestic violence.

When questioned about the pause trai-ning, 99% responded that it helps them to make decisions for themselves by “pro-viding a space to listen to themselves;” and 83% stated that the pause has helped “to reduce violence”. Furthermore, the survey participants have seen changes within their communities despite the fact that not everyone has participated in the workshops.

-teracy-ers of the Pause” official certifica-tes were conferred to those community leaders who, upon their own initiative, have shared the pause in their surround-ings after having assimilated and put it into practice in their daily activities.

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Food security and its environmental im-plications

15 women’s organizations and associa-tions have incorporated organic agricul-tural practices geared towards improving crop productivity and recovering traditio-nal varieties of Andean roots and tubers, such as mashua, melloco and oca, among others. 354 family orchards have been set up to improve family nutrition.

Technical assistance and training ses-sions have been undertaken based on the zone’s particular needs, emphasizing

the importance of recovering and main-taining diversity through crop association and rotation. This approach ensured that organic farming founded on respect and equality, incorporating the principles of agro-ecology necessary for life, was va-lued.

Personalized field visits were made to each family by the technical team, there-by enabling the message of non-violent communication to be reinforced: lear-ning to listen to oneself and listening to mother earth or “allpa mama” and giving back what she gives us.

Lorenza Guamán, member of the “Delia María” organization

“For me, the pause has been very important. It makes you feel, it makes you think that we shouldn’t act violently. Instead, we should wait a little, with patience, tranquility and respond in a way that is good for the home and good for the community. As women, we must make the pause so that they [the men] learn from us and so put it into practice.”

Fabiola Alulema, project technician

The pause, for me, has been a tool that shows me the way, a medicine that cures my loneliness, my sadness and my worries. Before, I couldn’t accept those problems that I had inside me. My problems were a weight that troubled me. For a long time I was sick with worry that my life was a failure but, thankfully, I found a route out of it: a route that FECD gave me by sharing its experiences of feeling, checking, accompanying and decision-making. For me, this was very important. Now I have decided to accept what I feel, be grateful for life and past events. I have managed to free myself from my anguish and my problems because I now know how to make decisions, I know how to check with my body and also how to feel what is inside me.

The pause has generated a space for making decisions and to deal with my problems with the “I mes-sage” and to improve the conditions of my life.

I am a woman on her own, keen to get ahead with my daughter and to share my experiences of the pause with my family and the people who are close to me.

I didn’t know what my future was, but I now feel that I have found the path that guides me to my horizon: Focusing.”

Testimonies

Productivityand growth

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The Unión de Asociaciones Artesanales “Eloy Alfaro”, comprising five communi-ty-based organizations in three cantons in the Esmeraldas province, has made considerable progress during the last year by incorporating the practices of the pause and listening. Such practices in-clude improving internal communication within the group which, in turn, has provi-ded for agreements and led to an enhan-ced infrastructure while strengthening the fine aroma cocoa marketing process.

The pause.- This organization prioritizes the practice and diffusion of the pause, focusing on reducing violence and im-proving communication and productivity. This process also represents a tool on which technical support to small cocoa

producers is based on, in the canton of Río Verde and communities in the can-ton of Eloy Alfaro, resulting in improved produce quality and productivity. Simi-larly, work has been undertaken in other spheres such as health through itinerant medicine campaigns, access to micro-credits and land legalization.

Infrastructure.- As a means of reco-vering fine aroma cocoa, in competitive and associative terms, in the interven-tion zone, two nurseries have been built in Chontaduro. Incorporating the zone’s own high yield and quality seedlings, an-nual production capacity is approximately 45,000 plants. This pilot initiative applies a sustainable model that will enable the Unión Eloy Alfaro to recover its costs and

Cocoa, felt development for producers in the Ecuadorian coastal region

Esmeraldas

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maintain a provision for plants, as well as incorporate young people through intern-ships and replicate the lessons learned in other zones.

International markets.- As a strategy for accessing special international markets, such as the US, the European Communi-ty and Japan, the Unión Eloy Alfaro has taken the initiative of participating in an organic certification process for 252 of its producers. During the past year, overseas markets interested in product quality and their respective social and environmental significance have also been explored.

The Cocoa Route.- In the San Vicente community, the project has provided te-chnical support as well as sharing the learning with the pause technique. This community, coupled with the Women’s Association of Cevicangre, forms part of the initiative known as the Cocoa Route that currently receives support from the USAID “Productive Network” Program, from the Provincial Government of Es-meraldas and a contribution from FECD. The first phase of the project establishes a connection between the zone’s natural and cultural attractions and the produc-tion of fine aroma cocoa. A route has been mapped out that, undertaken in a

small motorboat, runs from Río Verde to San Vicente, incorporating visits to cocoa farms as well as walks and horse rides, among other tourist activities. Visitors are also invited to sample the local dis-hes, such as “cevicangre”, the principal meal served by this women’s community initiative.

The perspectives for strengthening the Unión Eloy Alfaro in terms of product quality and volume, accompanied by the felt commitment of the partners, are encouraging. Given its privileged location in the zone, the organization should - in the near future - be able to export its production directly through the port at Esmeraldas.

2,800 participating families

US$ 3,389,101 commercialized associatively (purchases from producers)

400,000 seedlings planted

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Annual Report 2011

Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, as well as in the undefined area around Manga del Cura, more than 2,600 small cocoa produ-cers and their families have incorporated human development with Focusing into their daily activities. During the last year, the project has achieved some notable re-sults with respect to strengthening pro-ductive, organizational and administrative capacities.

Human Development has provided for the generation of positive attitudes among the participants and strengthened the development results planned. A literacy of the pause program has been set up and 31 community-based organizations are now incorporating this process into their development model.

Environmentally sustainable produc-tion.- The project serves to strengthen production capacities while maintaining an environmental approach. The culti-vation of cocoa in agroforestry has been encouraged with emphasis placed on the application of clean technology providing for increased productivity in plantations, thus reducing the use of agro-chemicals.

Market approach.- The organizations tra-de in association using a market approach.

This requires training farmers in organic crop management, thereby increasing the production and quality of fine aroma co-coa. When combined with organic certifi-cation training, the result is a more sustai-nable market strategy.

Community micro-credit systems.- By way of a contribution to improving the fi-nancial circumstances of the participating families, the project has promoted the establishment of community savings and credit systems, carried out by CEDERE-NA, the co-executor partner. Thirty-one systems have been set up with a portfo-lio of more than US$600,000, and a rate of 0.28% in payment delays. Forty-seven percent of the credits have been granted to women.

2,600 small cocoaproducer participants

400,000 plants in the production process

US$600,000 active portfolio in community savings and credit systems

Los Ríos, Manabí and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas

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For more than ten years, FECD, together

strengthen the high altitude coffee pro-duction chain as a means of improving the living conditions of the people and, at the same time, reducing the high rate of migration affecting this province. This work has been undertaken in stages, co-vering different zones in order to achie-ve a regional impact.

Unlike previous projects, as from year 2010 this project has sought to incorpo-rate the producers in the learning pro-cess of the “pause” in order that, based on Human Development with Focusing,

individuals can create their felt and sustainable processes in the areas of production, education and organization, thereby clarifying their needs, dreams and possibilities at all levels of local de-velopment.

By the end of 2011, with financing pro-vided by FECD, the “Proyecto Regional para el Manejo del Café - APECAM”, exe-cuted by the Association of Small Produ-cers of Special Coffees and Alternative Producers (APECAM) had implemented the actions of the project focusing on the cantons of Olmedo, Chaguarpamba, Catamayo, Paltas and Calvas Quilanga,

The high altitudeproductive coffee chain

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together with Espíndola and Gonzanamá where previous work had been under-taken to strengthen the associative co-ffee commercialization processes.

Work has concentrated on the recovery and renovation of coffee plantations. This has involved technifying the crops, a process that includes conversation practices and improving post-harvest processes with the inclusion of a mar-ket vision. Complementing these acti-vities, links have been sought with the

to identify local organizations that can access resources that would provide for the strengthening of the associative coffee commercialization processes. In addition, the project has planned for the organic certification of 600 production units, thereby providing not only access to a better price for the producer but also raising awareness about environ-mental protection.

In this way, FECD is thus able to contri-bute to the consolidation of the high alti-tude coffee productive chain; a resource

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rando que se trata de un recurso que permite conjugar la lucha contra la pobreza y el cuidado ambiental. Los ingresos familiares de los partici-pantes se incrementaron por la me-jora de precios por calidad lograda este año, lo cual incide directamente en una mejora sustancial en las con-diciones de vida de las familias cafi-cultoras.

El resultado final del proyecto, pre-visto para finales de septiembre del 2012, busca alcanzar de manera sostenida, mejores condiciones so-cioeconómicas y humanas para 1.500 familias cafetaleras de los cantones mencionados anteriormente. Ello, mediante la consolidación de un sis-tema sostenible de comercialización asociativa de la cadena de café de altura.

SustainableTourism

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Among the Shuar people, many heads of household have migrated to nearby cities while natural resources in the vicinity are diminishing. Consequently, various settle-ments in Nantip, San Antonio, Atahualpa, Kunkuk and Juwa, located in the canton of Francisco de Orellana, in the province of Orellana, have turned to community and ecological tourism as a means of gene-rating medium and long-term economic resources. This initiative encourages the people to remain on their land without having to undertake any inappropriate ex-ploitation activities.

The project began with an analysis of the tourist attractions and in which the poten-tialities of each community were defined. Using this study, the communities prioriti-

zed the competencies that their members needed to acquire and the tourism structu-re that, gradually, would have to be set up.

The project carried out a practical training plan in which 20 community promoters were instructed in basic tourist topics, in-cluding gastronomy, client service, trek-king, first-aid, among others. At the same time, the community promoters passed on their acquired knowledge to their families and other members of the community.

In addition, awareness on the appropria-te use of natural resources and applied ecological practices complemented the tourism training. Topics covered included solid waste management within the com-munities, the correct use of wild species

Ecological and community tourism, a sustainable alternative for the Amazon region

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for self-consumption and ecological tech-niques in the construction of basic tourism infrastructures.

In the organizational context, the participating group of communities set up the Shuar Com-munity Tourism Network – RETCONASH. This association has been established to head the tourism ventures and manage – within the framework of the priorities defined by the local competent authorities – the implemen-tation of its community development plans, especially with regard to basic service infras-tructure works.

The project also accompanied the efforts to strengthen the Shuar Cultural Cen-ter whose head offices are located on the esplanade in the town of Francisco de Orellana. This center will assume significant importance in the marketing and coordination of the tourism services offered. Various basic tourism infras-tructures, such as paths, places of rest and stalls for food sales, have already been built in the Shuar centers in or-der to attract, in the near future, visi-tors from other parts of Ecuador and the world.

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become a reality in the canton of Agua-rico. Through the project, a circuit of tourist attractions has been established in the buffer zone and within the “Biós-fera Yasuní” reserve. The communities are now equipped to receive tourists and work at full capacity without neglecting their responsibility to comply with en-vironmental management and quality standards.

Canadian and UN cooperation units par-ticipating in the initiative have monitored

the progress achieved by each commu-nity in their respective components. Elements include a trekker’s route gui-de, presentation and quality of the zone’s traditional dishes, cultural specimens of the Kichwa people and lodging services.

In year 2011, REST members participa-

Focusing workshops to ensure that the consolidation phase of the organization was founded on a solid base, ensuring that commitments are assimilated, the environment respected and its people

The Tourism Solidarity Network on the Banks of The Napo River – REST

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trained as well as to being able to call upon the technical aspects demanded by tourism.

Once again, REST teamed up with FECD and Solidaridad Internacional to work on the marketing component of the tou-rism offer to establish sound and sustai-nable links with local and international tourism markets. The result was the cooperation and financing agreement for the “Comercialización de turismo co-munitario para el desarrollo económico alternativo y sustentable de las comu-nidades que conforman la Red Solidaria de Turismo de la Ribera del Rio Napo”

project (Marketing community tourism for alternative and sustainable economic development of the communities com-prising the Tourism Solidarity Network on the Banks of the Napo River), that will conclude in two years.

The operating capacities of REST to pro-vide tourism services are now installed. The challenge for the next two years is to strengthen an autonomous and efficient administrative structure to support and project the future growth of this initiative. Such implies attracting travelers, struc-turing tourist packages and implemen-ting venture business management.

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International allianceswith a human base

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Annual Report 2011

True to a vision focused on the local do-main in which it seeks to act as an actor unencumbered by borders, FECD encou-rages development entities to participate and become involved as part of its stra-tegy. This vision has led FECD to form equitable and solid international allian-ces defined by principles and values.

Through its permanent connections with Focusing international community leaders, represented in The Focusing Institute based in New York, FECD has become a visible actor within this com-munity. Indeed, interest about the work undertaken by FECD is growing. This re-presents a space from which a foothold may be attained in both Ecuador and in the international community.

-ment base, FECD’s alliance with ICEA and its network of partner organizations has been strengthened. ICEA now plans to incorporate the element of respect for the human being and its environmen-tal implications as a distinctive feature within its international management as part of a peace and life initiative.

InternationalAlliances

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The acclaim for FECD’s management model has provided for its incorporation into relevant international spaces within the field of organic agriculture, such as IFOAM, an entity in which FECD is an ac-credited partner.

FECD also has an alliance with FUNDE-SO, one of the most renowned Spanish NGOs. The relationship has been cul-

tivated and built on shared elements: Human Development with Focusing and FECD’s capacity for response to the re-quirements of potential funders. The alliance with FUNDESO has enabled us to extend our relationships and incor-

-can countries with whom joint proposals have been conceived within the multina-tional sphere.

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Annual Report 2011

Audit Report

BOARD OF THE FIDEICOMISO FECD

Econ. Abelardo Pachano: President

PRINCIPAL MEMBERS

Ing. Raúl Baca Carbo

Econ. César Robalino

TRUST

Napoleón Jarrín: General Manager of NTERFONDOS

Administradora de Fondos y Fideicomisos S.A.

FIDEICOMISO FECD PERSONNEL

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT

William Hernández: Executive Director and Attorney-in-Fact

Silvia Plonsky: Assistant to Executive Management

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Patricio Galarza: Project Manager

Ximena Torres: Assistant to Project Management

Claudia Oemer: Project Officer

Paulina Angulo: Project Officer

Jorge Idrovo: Project Officer

María Fernanda Illánez: Project Officer

Diana Baquero: Project Officer

FINANCIAL-ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT

Juan Carlos Brito: Financial-Administrative Manager

Beatriz Sosa: Accountant

Wilson Chávez: IT Specialist

Amable Aumala: Services Support

Germán Tabango: Services Support

Disign: Quinta Dimensión / Photography: FECD Archives Complete or partial reproduction is permitted, provided the source is acknowledged.Copyright: Fideicomiso Ecuatoriano de Cooperación para el Desarrollo (FECD)

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