ISLP completes two-year project in Ecuador bringing together civil society, government, and private sector stakeholders

ISLP is pleased to announce the completion of a two-year project, conducted in partnership with Counterpart International Ecuador and funded by USAID, supporting the country’s implementation of its National Action Plan under the Open Government Partnership (OGP). Our work was geared at strengthening democratic principles as a fundamental requirement for OGP implementation, building trust among stakeholders, and promoting transparency, accountability, and active private sector involvement in addressing the challenges facing Ecuador. As part of this effort, we conducted several convenings in Ecuador from 2022 to 2024 with the support of volunteers from White & Case, Clifford Chance, and Ropes & Gray. Additionally, ISLP volunteers conducted research and provided case studies illustrating the principles and frameworks needed to support an open government.

Most recently, in March 2024 and with assistance from Ropes & Gray, we held a series of workshops and convenings in Quito and Cuenca on anti-corruption compliance and corporate democratic responsibility in Ecuador. These activities, organized by ISLP and Counterpart International – Ecuador (CPI), involved approximately 180 representatives from the public and private sectors, universities, law firms, students, and civil society organizations, as well as independent citizens.

The workshops were coordinated with CPI and our local partners to ensure we were responsive to Ecuador’s real-time needs while reinforcing long-term principles necessary for an open government. This year’s activities built on the substantial pro bono work and in-country training sessions delivered in 2022 by volunteers from White & Case which focused on the Fundamental Role of Public-Private Partnerships in Ecuador for economic reactivation (featured in a previous ISLP newsletter).

More than 300 people from the public and private sectors, development financial institutions, and international aid agencies participated in our activities during the last two years, and more than 50% of the participants were women, underscoring our commitment to gender equality. The project adapted to the evolving political landscape and the evolving needs of our Ecuadorian partners, while reinforcing long-term principles essential for an open government, such as transparency, accountability, public-private cooperation, and creating opportunities for inclusion and gender equality. Alicia Arias Salgado, CPI’s Chief of Party in Ecuador for the USAID New Partnerships in Open Government project and currently CPI’s interim Chief of Party in the Dominican Republic, stated that “The joint work between Counterpart and ISLP has managed to increase the quality of legal knowledge of the lawyers, judges and prosecutors who participated in our courses, and we have also achieved joint dialogue processes to generate long-term solutions.”

ISLP was pleased to join a panel hosted by Counterpart International during the ABA International Law conference in Washington, DC in May to reflect on learnings from our work together in Ecuador. ISLP also hosted a virtual dialogue with team members and volunteers Suzanne Perry of White & Case and Irina Sivachenko and Isabela Garcez from Ropes & Gray to glean insights from their volunteer experiences.

We are grateful to all collaborating organizations, including Counterpart International – Ecuador; Women in the Profession Ecuador; the Chamber of Industries, Production, and Employment of Cuenca; the Provincial Court of Justice of Azuay; the Bar Association of Azuay; Vital Dialogues, University of the Hemispheres; and USAID for their support.

This project was funded by USAID.