Call for EOIs: Food Assistance for Vulnerable and Migrant Populations in Ecuador

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is seeking cooperating partners in Ecuador to deliver food assistance to vulnerable households and migrant populations affected by acute food insecurity. The initiative focuses particularly on the Amazon, Sierra Centro-Sur Andina, and border regions, aiming to protect food consumption and improve access to food while ensuring dignity, non-discrimination, accountability, and safe delivery of assistance.

What Is the WFP Ecuador Food Assistance Opportunity?

The World Food Programme (WFP) is inviting organisations to become cooperating partners for humanitarian food assistance activities in Ecuador.

The initiative responds to a worsening humanitarian situation involving:

• Acute food insecurity.
• Loss of livelihoods.
• Economic disruption.
• Restricted mobility.
• Criminal violence and insecurity.
• Increased vulnerability among refugees and migrants.
• Pressure on host communities and local assistance systems.

Cooperating partners will support WFP’s efforts to reach households and migrant populations that are unable to meet their basic food needs.

Why Is Food Assistance Needed in Ecuador?

Ecuador is facing a combination of humanitarian, economic, and security challenges that are affecting people’s ability to access adequate food.

More than 420,000 people are projected to experience acute food crisis or emergency conditions by the end of 2026.

The most affected populations include vulnerable Ecuadorian households and people experiencing displacement or migration.

The crisis is particularly significant in:

• The Amazon region.
• Sierra Centro-Sur Andina.
• Border areas.

Support for Refugees and Migrants

Ecuador is also an important transit and destination country for refugees and migrants.

An estimated 325,000 people are expected to cross Ecuador in 2026.

Migrants and refugees may face:

• Limited access to livelihoods.
• Economic hardship.
• Difficulties integrating into local communities.
• Security risks.
• Limited access to essential services and assistance.

The programme therefore seeks to support both vulnerable Ecuadorian households and migrant populations in transit.

What Is the Expected Result?

The primary expected result is to protect food consumption and improve access to food among vulnerable populations.

The intervention is guided by several humanitarian principles:

• Dignity: Assistance should be delivered in a manner that respects beneficiaries.
• Non-discrimination: Support should be accessible without unjust discrimination.
• Accountability: Assistance should be transparent and responsive to affected communities.
• Safe assistance management: Food assistance must be managed and delivered safely.

Who Are the Target Beneficiaries?

The programme primarily targets:

• Vulnerable Ecuadorian households.
• Households experiencing acute food insecurity.
• Migrant populations in transit.
• Refugees and other vulnerable displaced populations.
• Vulnerable people living in affected border and high-risk areas.
• Communities experiencing livelihood and economic disruptions.

Geographic Focus

The call places particular emphasis on areas experiencing significant humanitarian needs, including:

• Amazon region
• Sierra Centro-Sur Andina
• Border regions of Ecuador

Organisations seeking to participate should demonstrate an understanding of the local context and the needs of vulnerable populations in the areas where they intend to operate.

What Would Cooperating Partners Do?

Selected cooperating partners would support the implementation of WFP food-assistance activities.

Depending on the final programme arrangements, partner responsibilities may involve:

• Supporting identification and assistance of vulnerable households.
• Facilitating food assistance for migrant populations.
• Coordinating with local stakeholders.
• Supporting safe and accountable assistance delivery.
• Monitoring implementation and beneficiary outcomes.
• Maintaining appropriate records and reporting.
• Ensuring humanitarian principles are followed throughout implementation.

The specific operational responsibilities would depend on the partnership arrangements established with WFP.

Why This Opportunity Matters

The call comes at a time when Ecuador is experiencing overlapping food security, displacement, economic, and security challenges.

A strong cooperating-partner network can help WFP:

• Reach vulnerable populations more effectively.
• Improve access to food.
• Protect household food consumption.
• Support migrants and refugees in transit.
• Strengthen humanitarian coordination.
• Deliver assistance safely and with dignity.
• Respond more effectively to rapidly changing needs.

How Organisations Should Prepare

Organisations interested in becoming a cooperating partner should be prepared to demonstrate their ability to operate effectively in humanitarian environments.

Step 1: Understand the Humanitarian Context

Applicants should demonstrate knowledge of food insecurity, displacement, migration, livelihoods, and security conditions affecting Ecuador.

Step 2: Identify Relevant Operational Capacity

Organisations should assess their ability to:

• Reach vulnerable communities.
• Deliver or facilitate humanitarian assistance.
• Work in challenging environments.
• Maintain beneficiary records.
• Monitor activities.
• Meet reporting requirements.

Step 3: Demonstrate Local Knowledge

Experience working with communities in the Amazon, Sierra Centro-Sur Andina, or border regions can be particularly relevant where those areas fall within the proposed intervention.

Step 4: Establish Accountability Systems

Potential partners should have mechanisms for:

• Beneficiary feedback.
• Complaint handling.
• Monitoring.
• Financial accountability.
• Safe management of assistance.

Step 5: Ensure Humanitarian Standards

Organisations should be able to implement activities consistently with WFP’s principles of dignity, non-discrimination, accountability, and safe assistance delivery.

Key Considerations for Potential Partners

Before pursuing the opportunity, organisations should consider whether they have:

• Experience in humanitarian or food-security programmes.
• Strong community relationships.
• Capacity to work with vulnerable and mobile populations.
• Appropriate safeguarding and accountability systems.
• Monitoring and reporting capacity.
• Financial and operational management systems.
• Ability to operate safely in areas affected by insecurity.
• Experience coordinating with government, humanitarian, or community stakeholders.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the WFP Ecuador call seeking?

The call seeks cooperating partners capable of supporting WFP food-assistance activities for vulnerable Ecuadorian households and migrant populations.

Who will benefit from the programme?

The programme targets vulnerable households experiencing food insecurity and migrant populations in transit, particularly those facing economic, livelihood, or security-related vulnerabilities.

Which areas of Ecuador are prioritised?

The initiative particularly focuses on the Amazon, Sierra Centro-Sur Andina, and border regions.

Why are migrants included in the programme?

Ecuador is both a transit and destination country for refugees and migrants. An estimated 325,000 people are expected to cross the country in 2026, increasing demand for humanitarian assistance and support services.

How serious is food insecurity in Ecuador?

More than 420,000 people are projected to be in acute food crisis or emergency conditions by the end of 2026, according to the information provided.

What principles guide the assistance?

The programme emphasizes dignity, non-discrimination, accountability, and safe management of humanitarian assistance.

What should organisations demonstrate?

Potential cooperating partners should be able to demonstrate relevant humanitarian or community experience, operational capacity, local knowledge, monitoring and reporting systems, and the ability to deliver assistance safely and accountably.

Conclusion

The WFP Ecuador Cooperating Partner opportunity seeks capable organisations to help protect food consumption and improve food access for vulnerable Ecuadorian households, refugees, and migrants. By strengthening locally implemented humanitarian assistance in high-need areas, the initiative aims to respond to Ecuador’s worsening food insecurity, livelihood, migration, and humanitarian challenges while maintaining dignity, inclusion, accountability, and safe assistance delivery.