Ecuador’s specialty cacao investment case will strengthen the competitiveness, traceability and value addition of fine aroma and specialty cacao value chains for premium national and international markets. The intervention will prioritize high-potential cacao-producing territories determinate by Hand in Hand methodology, including in  the selected provinces of Esmeraldas, Guayas, Los Ríos, Manabí, Chimborazo, Pastaza y Orellana.

Key investments will focus on improving post-harvest and collection infrastructure, including fermentation, drying, storage and quality control facilities; strengthening producer organizations; implementing digital traceability and georeferencing systems aligned with market and sustainability requirements; and promoting agroforestry and climate-resilient production models. The investment will also support market intelligence, investment promotion, quality differentiation and access to premium markets, requiring an investment of 83.22 million USD, with an IRR of 20.6% and benefiting more than 1.5 million people.

The expected impact includes increased producer incomes, improved product quality, enhanced market access, reduced information asymmetries and stronger positioning of Ecuadorian cacao in high-value markets while increasing producer income and compliance with international market requirements.

This investment case will  accelerate the transition of Ecuador’s livestock sector toward regenerative, low-emission and market-oriented production systems. The intervention will target priority cattle-producing territories, based on productivity, environmental vulnerability, market potential and territorial prioritization carried out through the Hand-in-Hand methodology.

It includes investments in animal health and productivity improvements, and the strengthening of technical assistance services. The case will also promote private traceability systems, product differentiation, market intelligence for regenerative livestock products, and financial mechanisms such as differentiated credit and payments for results linked to sustainable production outcomes, requiring an investment of 71.13 million USD, with an IRR of 20.4% and benefiting around 500 thousand people.

The investment is expected to improve productivity, reduce environmental pressure, enhance climate resilience, create incentives for sustainable practices and support the development of differentiated markets for regenerative meat and dairy products.

Ecuador’s tuna investment case seeks to strengthen the competitiveness, sustainability and value addition of the tuna value chain under the Blue Transformation agenda. The intervention will prioritize strategic coastal territories linked to tuna landing, processing, logistics and commercialization.

Key investments will modernize port and processing infrastructure, strengthen fisheries governance and traceability systems, develop market intelligence and digital information platforms, establish innovation capacities for tuna by-products, promote circular economy solutions, and improve access to sustainable finance for the blue economy, requiring an investment of 12.57 million USD, with an IRR of 14.4% and benefiting around 100 thousand people.
The expected results include increased value addition, improved market access, reduced post-harvest and processing losses, stronger compliance with international sustainability requirements, and greater inclusion of coastal communities and value chain actors in higher-value market opportunities.