| Ecuador currently hosts the largest refugee population in South America, with most settling in the northern province of Sucumbios. Recognizing the severity of the humanitarian and security situation in Sucumbios, the Government of Ecuador and a variety of international actors have undertaken a variety of development assistance projects to aid the Colombian refugee population. Despite some benefits, the impact of development assistance in Sucumbios has been undermined by a range of complexities and tensions inherent in the design and delivery of these programs. Using a human security framework, this study will consider a variety of external factors in providing a critical analysis of development assistance in Sucumbios. With UNHCR facilitation, this study relied on first-hand observation of development assistance projects in Sucumbios. In particular, the study examines the impact of development assistance in Sucumbios with a focus on the differing impacts on refugee women, youth, Afro-Colombian and Indigenous groups. |
