Ecuador - Strengthening the National Statistical System in Ecuador Project : Inspection Panel Notice of Registration on a Request for Inspection (English)

On September 11, 2024, the Inspection Panel received a Request for Inspection concerning the Strengthening the National Statistical System in Ecuador Project. The Request claims the World Bank - financed Project has supported the implementation of the 2022 population and housing census implemented by Ecuador's National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos - INEC), has underreported minority group populations - such as Indigenous Peoples, Montubios, Afro-Ecuadorians, and members of LGBTI+communities - and consequently may exclude them from public services and social benefits. The Request alleges that due to poor design and implementation, the census failed to allow indigenous peoples, montubios, and Afro-Ecuadorians, as well as members of LGBTI+ communities to self-identify and be properly counted. The Request claims these issues have contributed to the underreporting of the affected minority groups and that this adversely affects their collective rights - especially to consultation and consent. The Panel conducted its initial due diligence of the Request and determined that it meets the admissibility criteria.