For the first time, an Inter-American Development Bank program specifically addresses the challenges posed by organized crime.
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a US$150 million loan and a US$5 million grant to support Ecuador in preventing crimes associated with organized crime groups and reducing their impunity.
The loan has a 25-year repayment term, a five-and-a-half-year grace period, with an interest rate based on SOFR.
The objective of this program is for the country to increase the coverage of initiatives to prevent organized crime and attention to vulnerable populations, the effectiveness of criminal investigation, and the capacities for national and local security management.
On October 16, 2024, the IDB Board of Directors approved the Program for the Prevention and Response to Violence and Crime in Ecuador, taking into account that one of the country's challenges is the increase in criminal violence since 2018.
“This security crisis, driven by the actions of organized criminal groups, prevents the country from advancing its development agenda and hinders economic recovery.”
The agency's chairman, Ilan Goldfajn, said it was "an innovative operation that will enhance the effective presence of the State in critical areas, protecting vulnerable zones, preventing recruitment, strengthening financial and forensic intelligence to reduce financial crimes, and improving coordination at local and regional levels."
He added that this program in Ecuador is an example of the IDB's new approach: a comprehensive and multi-sectoral focus, combining social and police prevention, criminal investigation and security governance.
THESE ARE THE THREE COMPONENTS OF THE PROGRAM:
1. Prevent violence in high-incidence areas and the recruitment of adolescents and young people, and promote care for vulnerable populations.
- A new model of preventive police service will be implemented, including technological solutions for comprehensive management, technical assistance and training, the construction of police infrastructure and support for the school security network.
- Twelve Civic Centres for Life and Peace will be built and launched, with integrated services for adolescents and young people aimed at preventing recruitment.
- The capacities of the Ministry of the Interior will be strengthened for orderly and safe migration, including support for the implementation of the Plan against Illicit Trafficking of Migrants and the regularization of the migrant population in the country.
2. Increase the effectiveness of investigation and prosecution of crimes associated with organized criminal groups.
- Strengthen the prevention and detection capabilities of the Financial and Economic Analysis Unit (UAFE) for money laundering and the investigation of this and other crimes such as homicide and extortion by the National Police.
- Support the modernization of chain of custody systems and the improvement of digital forensic investigation capabilities, including technical assistance, training, computer equipment and the creation of the Police Cyber Center.
3. Strengthen the capacities of the Ministry of the Interior and the decentralized autonomous governments (GAD) to coordinate and implement participatory and data-driven citizen security initiatives.
- Modernize the information systems of the Ministry of the Interior and the Ecuadorian Police.
- Improve the capacity for strategic analysis of organized crime.
- Develop a technical and academic management model for the University of Citizen Security and Police Sciences.
- Implement a program to strengthen local governance of citizen security, with a technological platform for training and monitoring and technical assistance for the design of municipal security plans with a gender and diversity perspective.
