The European Investment Bank (EIB), through its development-focused branch EIB Global, and the Development Bank of Ecuador (BDE) have announced a new USD 100 million loan to expand water, sanitation, and waste management services across Ecuador. This loan complements an earlier USD 100 million framework and will collectively benefit around 1,000,000 people, particularly in underserved communities, while supporting climate resilience through improved water and waste management systems.
The operation will finance priority projects in water supply, wastewater treatment, and waste management, modernizing infrastructure, extending access to essential services, and promoting climate change mitigation and adaptation. Complementary investments in waste treatment, including separative collection, aim to prevent pollution and improve environmental outcomes, particularly in rural areas where waste management remains a pressing need.
The initiative builds on the success of the first BDE-EIB framework loan, which has already supported 21 water and sanitation projects across 19 municipalities in Ecuador, benefiting over 450,000 people. The new loan expands the program’s scope to include waste management, addressing critical infrastructure gaps, reducing environmental pollution, promoting public health, and contributing to socio-economic development in the regions served.
EIB Global and BDE officials emphasized the social and environmental impact of the initiative. Nadia Calviño, EIB President, highlighted the project’s role in improving living conditions, public health, and climate resilience, while Carlos Rivera Bautista, General Manager of BDE, noted that the program reinforces BDE’s role as a strategic partner for sustainable local and regional development. Ioannis Tsakiris, EIB Vice-President, added that the initiative strengthens public health, climate resilience, and green investment in communities with the greatest needs.
The financing is part of the EU Global Gateway Investment Agenda in Ecuador, aligned with the Team Europe Initiative for a sustainable economy. By providing long-term financing not available on capital markets, the EIB addresses market gaps, fosters investment opportunities for the European private sector in water and sanitation technologies, and promotes sustainable local development.
The funded projects are expected to deliver significant environmental, social, and labor benefits, including reducing water and soil pollution, improving access to safe water and sanitation, generating employment opportunities during construction, and contributing to climate adaptation and mitigation. These investments support Ecuador’s national development and environmental goals while enhancing the impact of EU-EIB partnerships in the region.
EIB Global, as the EIB Group’s development finance arm, aims to support around $115 billion (€100 billion) in international investments by 2027 and has been active in Latin America and the Caribbean since the 1990s. Through this operation, EIB Global continues to advance sustainable infrastructure, connectivity, and climate-resilient development in Ecuador under the broader EU Global Gateway Investment Agenda.
