The primary goal of this technical assistance initiative was to help strengthen the capacity of municipal governments and other partner organizations to respond to and mitigate against the impact of the 2016 April earthquake disaster.

The activity responded to USAID/OFDA’s objectives with the aim of providing technical assistance to at-risk and affected municipalities and communities in Ecuador. Additionally Miyamoto met with the municipal staff of Quito and Portoviejo, surveyed the cities, including informal construction in the city of Quito, which forms 60 percent of the residential construction, we also reviewed the current and planned earthquake-response initiatives and provided recommendations for earthquake disaster-risk reduction. The recommendations included policy input aimed at reducing the risk in informal construction areas and establishing a coordinated damage-assessment program. Our work in Ecuador continues.