| Caritas Ecuador | |
| Native Name: | Cáritas Ecuador |
| Native Name Lang: | ESP |
| Type: | Nonprofit |
| Purpose: | development aid, humanitarian aid, social services |
| Location City: | Quito |
| Location Country: | Ecuador |
| Coordinates: | -0.1973°N -78.4991°W |
| Origins: | Catholic Social Teaching |
| Region Served: | Ecuador |
| Owners: | --> |
| Leader Title: | President |
| Leader Name: | Antonio Crameri[1] |
| Parent Organisation: | --> |
| Affiliations: | Caritas Internationalis, Caritas Latin America and Caribbean |
Caritas Ecuador (Spanish: Spanish; Castilian: Cáritas Ecuador|italics=no, also known as Spanish; Castilian: Pastoral Social Cáritas Ecuador|italics=no)[2] is an Ecuadorian nonprofit organisation established in 1961. It is the official aid organisation of the Catholic Church in Ecuador.
The organisation is a member of the global Caritas Internationalis confederation and of Caritas Latin America and Caribbean.[3]
Caritas Ecuador was founded as the social arm of the Catholic Church in Ecuador in 1961.[4]
The organisation works in a number of sectors, including in food security by implementing agricultural programmes, as well as in the fields of healthcare, environmental action, and support to migrants and refugees. Caritas also provides general support to persons living in poverty.[5] [6] [7] [8]
During the COVID-19 pandemic in Ecuador, Caritas assisted more than 600,000 people in the country.[9] [10]
To implement its work, Caritas Ecuador collaborates with numerous partners, including government and international cooperation organisations, universities, private companies, UN agencies such as UNHCR and FAO, and other national and international NGOs.[3]
It consists of a national office and of 25 diocesan Caritas organisations: