Ecuador participated in the XXXIV General Assembly of Ministers and High Authorities of Housing and Urban Development of Latin America and the Caribbean (MINURVI), held in Barbados. Daniel Elmir, Vice Minister of Sustainable Urban Development and Housing, represented the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MIT) at the event, which focused on challenges and opportunities related to housing, urban planning, and resilience.
The assembly took place over three days from November 3 to 5. Discussions centered on “Financing the urban transition: Housing, adaptation to climate change, and resilience.” The agenda emphasized innovative models to ensure access to adequate housing and build inclusive cities.
During panel sessions, Elmir presented several tools for promoting housing initiatives. He highlighted the Tu Casa Miti – Miti program as a regional example of shared financing. In this program, “the State covers 50% of the interest rate value for mortgage loans intended for housing, which families can access through partner financial institutions,” according to information provided by Elmir.
Through this initiative, 6,970 families have acquired homes with support from President Noboa’s government. The state has contributed $202.7 million out of a total $500 million available for this purpose. These funds come from both the Inter-American Development Bank and CAF development bank.
Elmir also discussed progress in urban regeneration through programs such as Comprehensive Neighborhood Improvement (MIB) and inclusive zones in Ecuadorian parks. These efforts focus on mobility, accessibility, social cohesion, governance strategies for reliable cities, closing institutional gaps, and attracting investment for sustainable urban projects.
“These actions are framed in ensuring that human beings are at the center of urban planning. We are achieving this by linking housing with infrastructure, which allows us to plan more comprehensive and sustainable cities,” said Daniel Elmir.
As part of the technical agenda during MINURVI’s assembly, delegations visited urban regeneration worksites as well as social housing projects in Barbados. Participants observed innovative solutions that could inform similar efforts across Latin America and the Caribbean. These activities encouraged regional cooperation and sharing best practices for sustainable urban development while reinforcing alignment between housing policies and resilience measures.
According to organizers, these developments position Ecuador as a regional leader in managing housing policy and sustainable urban development under President Daniel Noboa’s administration.
