IEPSEcuador

What IEPSEcuador does

IEPSEcuador (Instituto Nacional de Economía Popular y Solidaria) is a national government institution of Ecuador, legally constituted in 2011 under the Ley Orgánica de Economía Popular y Solidaria (LOEPS), with headquarters in Quito and a satellite office network covering all 24 provinces. The institution's mandate is to strengthen the Popular and Solidarity Economy (EPS) sector, which the Director General characterizes as comprising over 17,700 active organizations, 546,000 active members, and more than 6.7 million participants representing approximately 9.1% of Ecuador's GDP. IEPS administers the RUEPS (Registro Único de la Economía Popular y Solidaria), the unified national registry that gates EPS organizations' access to legal benefits, public contracting preferences, and institutional support programs.

IEPS executes a portfolio of programs including PROFECPIAM (a USD 40 million World Bank-co-financed project delivering non-reimbursable funds of USD 15,000 to 500,000 per organization to indigenous, Afro-Ecuadorian, and Montubio communities), Mi Tienda de El Nuevo Ecuador (technical assistance and non-reimbursable funds to 400 small shop owners nationwide), and specialized youth and financial inclusion programs (Empleo Agrojoven, Yo Decido, Escuela de Emprendimiento Joven Rural). The technology footprint consists of the RUEPS administrative registry, the PROFECPIAM subproject management system with email-based submission, and the Yaperita mobile application developed in partnership with Fundación Familia Sin Fronteras for digital commercialization of EPS products. Key physical-channel initiatives include Percha EPS (retail display points) and Carrito Itinerante EPS (mobile retail carts under the 'Somos Marka' branding strategy).

IEPS's business model is institutional rather than commercial: the entity is funded through Ecuador's national budget supplemented by earmarked international cooperation, with no direct revenue from services rendered at the user level. All services — RUEPS registration, training, technical assistance, market access through Percha/Carrito/Yaperita, and certification support via INEN — are provided free of charge to EPS actors. The institution channels public and multilateral funds to its beneficiaries while deriving its operational mandate from primary legislation (LOEPS) and reinforced competencies under the 2025 Ley de Integridad Pública. Under the Noboa administration, leadership passed to Arianna Burgos and subsequently to Juan Diego Tandazo, with the institution gaining first-ever entry into the Gabinete Sectorial de Desarrollo Productivo in 2025.

Name

IEPSEcuador

Legal name

Instituto Nacional de Economía Popular y Solidaria

Website

https://economiasolidaria.gob.ec

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IEPSEcuador is Ecuador's national government institute for the Popular and Solidarity Economy, administering the RUEPS registry and channeling World Bank and national budget funds to ~17,700 solidarity economy organizations across all 24 provinces.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Economic Development Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Public Finance Activities (92113)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Program & Project Implementation (TA Delivery) (BPADAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Project Preparation Facilities & Technical Assistance Windows (BPADAOAI), Development Cooperation & Foreign Aid Administration (BPAIAIAG)

Keywords

• Solidarity economy development
• Community economic financing
• Cooperative support services
• Rural productive projects
• Public economic registry

Headquarters

HQ city

Quito, Pichincha

HQ country

Ecuador

HQ region

Latin America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Government Budget Allocation: IEPS is a national government institution funded through the national budget. It distributes non-reimbursable funds (USD 15,000 to 500,000 per organization) to EPS organizations through the PROFECPIAM project co-financed with the World Bank (USD 40 million total investment).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

IEPSEcuador is Ecuador's national government institute that promotes and strengthens the Popular and Solidarity Economy (EPS) through accreditation in the RUEPS registry, technical assistance, training programs, non-reimbursable co-financing (USD 15,000 to USD 500,000 per organization), and market access support for cooperatives, associations, artisans, and small producers. The institution channels international cooperation funding, manages large-scale projects like PROFECPIAM (USD 40 million with the World Bank), and operates digital and physical commercialization channels including the Yaperita mobile app, Percha EPS display points, and Carrito Itinerante EPS mobile carts.

Product overview

IEPSEcuador (Instituto Nacional de Economía Popular y Solidaria) operates as a government institution providing a comprehensive ecosystem of services to support the Popular and Solidarity Economy (EPS). The institution offers multiple interconnected programs including PROFECPIAM for community economic development with World Bank co-financing, Mi Tienda de El Nuevo Ecuador for small shop support, and the Centro de Atención al Emprendedor (CAE) as a service hub. Key platforms include the RUEPS registry for EPS formalization, the Yaperita digital commercialization platform, and financial education through Yo Decido. Physical support mechanisms include Percha EPS exhibition points and Carrito Itinerante EPS mobile displays, while strategic initiatives like Comité Agrojoven and the Emprende con Sentido project provide specialized youth and organizational development programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PROFECPIAM: Proyecto de Fortalecimiento de las Economías Comunitarias de los Pueblos y Nacionalidades Indígenas, Afroecuatorianas y Montubias del Ecuador - A USD 40 million project executed by IEPS with World Bank funding for community economies.
• Mi Tienda de El Nuevo Ecuador
• Emprende con Sentido
• Carrito Itinerante EPS
• Percha EPS
• RUEPS
• Centro de Atención al Emprendedor (CAE)
• Plan Más Prosperidad

Products and services

• PROFECPIAM (Proyecto de Fortalecimiento de las Economías Comunitarias) A development project with USD 40 million World Bank co-financing that delivers training, technical assistance, and non-reimbursable funds (USD 15,000 to USD 500,000 per organization) to indigenous, Afro-Ecuadorian, and Montubio community economy organizations across Ecuador.
• Mi Tienda de El Nuevo Ecuador A store network project providing non-reimbursable funds, training, and technical assistance to small shop owners (tenderos) nationwide, extended through December 2027.
• Centro de Atención al Emprendedor (CAE) Service center providing guidance and support to EPS entrepreneurs for business development and formalization.
• Yo Decido: Mi futuro y mis finanzas Virtual financial education program with six training modules offering certificates per module (2 hours each) and a diploma upon full completion (12 hours).
• Yaperita Digital application serving as an online showcase for promoting and commercializing EPS products and services under fair and sustainable conditions with national scaling potential.
• RUEPS (Registro Único de la Economía Popular y Solidaria) Official public registry where EPS organizations register to access legal benefits, public contracting opportunities, and institutional support programs.
• Percha EPS Physical exhibition point for displaying and commercializing EPS products, located in strategic commercial areas as part of the 'Somos Marka' institutional branding strategy.
• Carrito Itinerante EPS Mobile exhibition cart bringing EPS products to high-traffic urban locations, offering free tastings and product promotion for entrepreneurs.
• Emprende con Sentido Project consolidating EPS ventures through formative processes in leadership, solidarity management, and popular education, articulating territorial economic networks with inclusion and equity approaches, benefiting over 46,000 EPS actors.
• Escuela de Emprendimiento Joven Rural Rural youth entrepreneurship school providing technical training and digital tools to enhance productive ideas with a sustainable approach.
• Empleo Agrojoven Program implemented with FAO coordination promoting youth employment in prioritized agricultural chains and fostering youth leadership networks and governance.
• Distintivo Somos EPS Recognition badge identifying ventures that operate under solidarity, cooperation, and social responsibility principles, enabling access to public procurement incentives and commercialization spaces.

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered secondary and core.

• Servicio Ecuatoriano de Normalización (INEN)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Cooperation agreement to strengthen product and service quality of EPS actors through the 'Mi Primer Certificado INEN' program. Joint activities include training, technical support, and ongoing evaluation to help EPS entrepreneurs access certification and new markets.
• FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025FAO provides technical assistance for the 'Empleo Agrojoven' (Agro Youth Employment) program and the Committee Agrojoven. IEPS Director General serves as Vice President of the Agrojoven Committee. FAO supports development of Ecuador's first Agricultural Policy for Rural Youth.
• GSEF (Global Social and Solidarity Economy Forum)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025IEPS joined the GSEF as a full member with voting rights in the General Assembly, representing Ecuador internationally. Participated in GSEF 2025 in Bordeaux, France, presenting EPS model and engaging in panels on youth and social economy. First time IEPS participates in this global forum.
• Superintendencia de Economía Popular y Solidaria (SEPS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025IEPS and SEPS signed a cooperation agreement to strengthen EPS organizations' financial, organizational, and administrative sustainability. Joint initiatives include training programs, organizational strengthening projects, specialized studies, and institutional service coordination. SEPS maintains authority to grant legal personality to associations and cooperatives.
• Universidad Espíritu Santo (UEES)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Cooperation agreement focused on applied research, specialized training, and productive and commercial innovation for EPS actors and the university community. Includes joint research on social and circular economy, bioentrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and data science; commercial articulation projects; and student internships and community service placements.
• COONECTA e ICOREDsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025IEPS, COONECTA, and ICORED signed an inter-institutional agreement to strengthen financial knowledge and skills of EPS actors. Promotes access to the virtual program 'Yo Decido: Mi futuro y mis finanzas' with six training modules and certificates equivalent to 12 hours of training upon completion.
• Fundación Familia Sin FronterassecondaryTechnology or Integration · 1 September 2025Cooperation agreement to strengthen EPS entrepreneurs through digital commercialization of their products. Introduced the Yaperita mobile application as a digital showcase for EPS products and services under fair and sustainable conditions at national scale.
• Comité Agrojoven (led by MAG, IEPS as Vice President)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025Committee created by Executive Decree 77, chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture, with IEPS as Vice President. Comprises nine government institutions to design and implement public policies strengthening decent employment, associativity, and entrepreneurship among rural youth. Includes subcommittees on Cooperativism and Youth Associativity.
• Asociación Nacional de Fabricantes de Alimentos y Bebidas (ANFAB)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025Agreement to strengthen organizational, technical, productive, and commercial capacities of EPS actors in the agri-food industry. Uses ANFAB's Ecuador Agroalimentario Digital Platform for commercialization and productive chain generation. 250 EPS actors already enrolled.
• CONGOPE (Consorcio de Gobiernos Provinciales del Ecuador)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Strategic alliance to promote EPS from territorial governments. IEPS and CONGOPE signed agreement to coordinate actions that strengthen solidarity economy actors at the local and regional level.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Corporación Financiera Nacional (CFN): Ecuadorian state development bank for productive sector financing. CFN provides credit lines and guarantees that complement IEPS's non-reimbursable grant programs, particularly for cooperatives and associations in agriculture, manufacturing, and services. It represents the institutional credit-financing channel adjacent to IEPS's grant-financing work.
• BanEcuador: Ecuador's state-owned development bank channeling productive credits to EPS organizations via the IEPS-BanEcuador alliance (USD 636K+ in 2024-2025). While a financial partner rather than competitor, BanEcuador operates in adjacent institutional space and represents the credit-financing complement to IEPS's non-reimbursable grant model.
• Servicio Nacional de Contratación Pública (SERCOP): Ecuador's national public procurement agency, through which IEPS-coordinated inclusive procurement (Feria Inclusiva) operates. SERCOP manages the contracting framework that gives EPS-registered organizations preferential treatment, making it the regulatory counterpart to IEPS's RUEPS accreditation system.
• Ministerio de Inclusión Económica y Social (MIES): IEPS's parent ministry responsible for broader social inclusion policy. MIES oversees social protection programs, child development, and economic inclusion initiatives that overlap with IEPS's mission. Both institutions coordinate on Ecuador's poverty reduction and vulnerable-population support architecture.

Direct peers

• Superintendencia de Economía Popular y Solidaria (SEPS): Ecuador's sister regulator for the EPS sector. SEPS holds authority to grant legal personality to associations and cooperatives while IEPS manages RUEPS registry and program delivery. They signed a cooperation agreement in 2025 to jointly strengthen EPS organizations, indicating closely aligned mandates within the same institutional ecosystem.
• Instituto Nacional de la Economía Social (INAES) - Mexico: Mexico's federal institute for the social and solidarity economy. INAES performs a directly comparable role to IEPS: administering registries, channeling non-reimbursable funds, providing technical assistance, and coordinating inclusive public procurement for community-based economic organizations. Both are statutory national entities with similar program architectures.
• Unidad Administrativa Especial de Organizaciones Solidarias (UAES) - Colombia: Colombia's national entity for the solidarity economy, with similar functions to IEPS including registry administration, technical assistance, training, and promotion of cooperative and communal organizations. Both institutions operate within similar Andean solidarity economy policy frameworks.

Others

• Corporación Líderes para Gobernar: Recognized IEPS in 2025 in the Economic and Productive Development category for the 'Emprende con Sentido' project benefiting46,000+ EPS actors. While a recognition body rather than a peer, it represents the regional institutional ecosystem within which IEPS's solidarity economy work is evaluated and benchmarked.
• Fundación Familia Sin Fronteras: Strategic technology partner that developed and operates the Yaperita digital commercialization platform for IEPS. While a service provider rather than a peer, it represents the operational layer that enables IEPS to execute market-access programs without in-house digital capacity.
• FAO Ecuador: FAO provides technical assistance for the Empleo Agrojoven program and co-sits with IEPS on the Comité Agrojoven. While not a peer in the same category, FAO represents a key multilateral development partner whose rural employment programs intersect directly with IEPS's PIAM and youth-focused initiatives.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ieps_ec
• YouTubeyoutube.com/ieps32
• Facebookfacebook.com/IEPSEcuador
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/instituto-nacional-de-econom%C3%ADa-popular-y-solidaria

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about IEPSEcuador