Ecuador : good governance program -- activity design document

The design document incorporates a rolling design, with future funding depending on additional Economic Support Fund (ESF) resources, Government of Ecuador (GOE) consensus on and commitment to the details of needed reforms, and USAID and GOE ability to leverage other donor resources. The initial tranche will be used to support GOE efforts to streamline the Ministry of Finance (MOF), including customs and tax reform, and to implement a state modernization mass media campaign. USAID"s relatively small contribution will serve as a catalyst for other donor funding and should otherwise influence and/or serve to redirect ongoing Inter-American Development Bank and World Bank efforts in these areas. Possible interventions to be funded by USAID include: short-term TA and training to support efforts of the National Council for the Modernization of the State (CONAM) to create depoliticized, autonomous, and highly technical customs and tax administrations; financing of publications and advertisements for a public information campaign; and short-term TA, training, or administrative support to the GOE in identifying and designing concrete measures to improve the effectiveness of the prosecutorial function in Ecuador. Another possible activity is strengthening the ability of the recently formed Anticorruption Commission to process cases in a timely and highly professional manner.