Outcome ECU_D_1.1

In 2026, the State and society have reduced socioeconomic inequalities and have promoted sustainable productive transformation with added value, the generation of livelihoods and decent work, guaranteeing equal rights and opportunities, and access for women and men to resources (UNSDCF Outcome 3)

Throughout 2024, several instruments were developed to advance the reduction of socioeconomic inequalities and close gender gaps in employment. Efforts focused on strengthening the institutional capacities of the Ministry of Labor for implementing Convention 190 in both the public and private sectors. Additionally, methodologies and technical tools for enforcing the Equal Pay Law, approved earlier this year, were finalized. In the area of caregiving, a new work plan was established with the Ministry of Economic and Social Inclusion (MIES) to support the implementation of the Human Care Law and the National Care System. To promote this landmark law, UN Women facilitated public debates on caregiving, including the event “Towards the Construction and Territorialization of Care Policies and Systems in Ecuador,” co-organized with the University of Azuay. Technical and legal inputs for drafting the regulations of the Human Care Law were developed, and at the local level, progress was made in mapping the social organization of care and designing a management model for implementing the Local Care System in the Metropolitan District of Quito (DMQ). Collaboration with the Ministry of Women continued, with a focus on strengthening the capacities of over 2,700 women and LGBTQ individuals to generate income and sustainable livelihoods. As part of the technical tools developed, a set of indicators and recommendations for implementing and evaluating the Rural Women Policy was delivered to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. To support the design, implementation, and evaluation of public policies, as well as to generate research and knowledge on gender inequalities and the living conditions of women in the country, UN Women provided the Gender Equality Council with a systematized dataset and statistical information from the 2022 Census and other official sources. This information will inform the next edition of the publication “Women, Men, and LGBTQ Populations in Figures.” To strengthen the capacities of civil society organizations, UN Women continued supporting their advocacy agendas and mechanisms. This included working with second-tier organizations representing unions, workers’ associations, and women’s organizations, such as the Amazonian Women’s Network and CONFENIAE. Support also continued for promoting and discussing the political agenda of Afro-descendant women

In 2026, the State and society have reduced socioeconomic inequalities and have promoted sustainable productive transformation with added value, the generation of livelihoods and decent work, guaranteeing equal rights and opportunities, and access for women and men to resources (UNSDCF Outcome 3)

In 2023, significant progress was made within the Ecuadorian legal framework to strengthen the economic empowerment of women. The Care Act and the Equal Pay Act were approved by the National Assembly, addressing structural barriers that limit women's participation in the economy, such as care work and the gender pay gap. On one hand, the Care Act provides protection for workers with caregiving responsibilities, establishes the foundations of the care system, and defines the rights of caregivers and care recipients. The law's scope encompasses rights related to parental leave and the foundational principles of care system coordination. On the other hand, the Equal Pay Act aims to ensure equal pay and any other economic retribution for the performance of the same work. The law includes four actions for its implementation: training, changes in organizational culture, annual reports on actions taken, and a compliance certification. Additionally, the Regulation of the Organic Law to promote the Purple Economy was approved. The regulation includes the enactment of an equality plan within organizations, prevention of harassment and violence in the workplace, and the "Purple Seal" certification for companies that excel in complying with the law. UN Women, through its work with the National Assembly and its Parliamentary Group for Women's Rights, as well as with the Ministry of Labor, provided technical assistance and inputs for the development of these legal frameworks and the generation of instruments for their application. Notable among them is the course on preventing harassment and violence in the workplace, incorporated into the Ministry of Labor's learning platform, and the Business Guide for diverse and inclusive change. Actions to prevent and address workplace harassment and violence were developed by UN Women in partnership with the British Ecuadorian Chamber of Commerce. Regarding the promotion of women-led entrepreneurship, UN Women strengthened 481 women in mobility and rural women with training in business management and seed capital for the establishment of savings groups and the strengthening of their businesses. Additionally, the "Creadoras" e-commerce platform, an adaptation of UN Women's Buy from Women initiative, was launched online. The platform aims to be a space for product commercialization as well as providing training for entrepreneurs.