Ecuador to Improve Legal Defense Services for 2.3 Million People with IDB Support

WASHINGTON — The Board of Executive Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a $31.9 million financing package to help Ecuador modernize the country's Public Defender's Office and expand access to legal services for vulnerable communities. The financing includes a $28.7 million loan and a $3.2 million non-reimbursable funding. 

The project is expected to benefit approximately 2.3 million people who rely on free legal defense services, including women experiencing violence, Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities, people with disabilities, migrants and refugees. 

The operation will improve the availability, quality, and efficiency of public legal defense services across Ecuador, and reduce barriers by expanding services in underserved communities, strengthening outreach to vulnerable groups. 

"By strengthening the Public Defender’s Office’s institutional capacity, this project will improve how legal services are delivered, helping bring quality services closer to the people who need them most," said Ignez M. Tristao, IDB Group Country Representative in Ecuador. 

The project will support the Public Defender's Office in expanding itinerant and digital services, improving in-person attention, and deploying new technologies that make legal assistance more accessible and responsive to people's needs. It will also strengthen institutional management and case administration, helping the institution reach more people while delivering services more efficiently. The operation is expected to increase access in highly vulnerable territories, reduce waiting times for users, and significantly expand the use of digital channels.

The project aligns with the IDB Group's Strategic Agreement with Ecuador for 2026-2030 and supports the country's efforts to strengthen institutional capacity, improve access to public services, and promote greater inclusion for vulnerable populations.