Prohibition during Ecuador’s census weekend.

By Ellen Willems, KF13, Ecuador

Ecuadorians who dare going out onto the public streets this Sunday November 28^th or who risk drinking alcoholic beverages between Saturday 27^th and Monday 29^th face sanctions ranging from two to four days in prison or fines from $7 to $15.

The reason for these measurements is the 7^th Ecuadorian Census conducted by the Ecuadorian Institute for Statistics and Census (INEC) on Sunday November 28^th between 7am and 5pm.

On this day more than 360,000 students will visit all the houses of all the Ecuadorians living in urban areas to ask them the 71 census questions. In the rural areas, where the houses are more scattered the process will take a total of 8 days! Starting Sunday November 28^th and ending Sunday December 5^th.

This census is very important for Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) because the data collected will give them valuable information about the economic and social situation of the areas where they currently operate or where they may want to operate in the future.

1. How many bedrooms does the house have (0: 3%; 1: 46%; 2: 29%; 3:16%, 4: 5%; 5: 1%).
2. Does the house have a separate kitchen (80.88% answered yes).
3. Does the house have its own toilet (64.55%), is it shared with other houses (11.04%), latrine (7.78%), no toilet (16.63%).
4. Does the house have its own shower (55.20%), is it shared with other houses (11,83%), no shower (32.97%).
5. Does the house have a telephone (32.18%)
6. Does any member of the household have a cell phone (question was not asked in previous census).
7. Does the house have internet (question was not asked in previous census).
8. Does the house have cable television (question was not asked in previous census);
9. How much was your last electricity bill (in previous census was asked IF house had electricity: 89.67% answered yes).

Foundación ESPOIR, the Kiva Partner I am currently working for, uses this information to evaluate the living conditions of its clients and to develop its products accordingly. ESPOIR’s housing credit for example is such a product tailored to the clients needs. Thanks to these Créditos de Vivienda ESPOIR’s clients have the opportunity to improve their house and thus the living conditions of their whole family.

If you want to learn more about Kiva’s Field Partner Fundación ESPOIR check out the Kiva Field Partners website here!

Posted by Ellen Willems, KF13 Roaming Kiva Fellow, currently working at Fundación ESPOIR in Portoviejo, Ecuador.