The city of Cuenca, located in southern Ecuador, is known for being a historical hub of artisanal and especially agricultural production, making it an ideal space for the development of the social and solidarity economy (SSE). In Cuenca, as in the rest of the country, the SSE proves to be an increasingly relevant response to the economic and social challenges faced by rural populations or those on the margins of urban centers, particularly regarding limited access to financial services and employment opportunities.

At the national level, Ecuador has a solid legal framework for the promotion of the SSE, anchored in the 2008 Constitution, which officially introduces the concept of the popular and solidarity economy as one of the pillars of the country's economic development. This constitutional framework is reinforced by the Organic Law of the Popular and Solidarity Economy and the Popular and Solidarity Financial System (2011), which regulates and promotes various organizational forms that share the principles of solidarity, cooperation, and self-management. Additionally, in Ecuador, the SSE financial sector is regulated by the Superintendence of the Popular and Solidarity Economy (SEPS), an entity that supervises and regulates the functioning of cooperatives, associations, and other solidarity-based financial institutions.

At the national level, producer organizations have joined together in networks to work collaboratively and pool their productive resources; some operate at the local level, while others achieve national influence. These networks enable producers to collaborate, share knowledge, and access training opportunities. Through associative collaboration, producers strengthen their production capacity to access better market opportunities.

In this context, decentralized autonomous governments play a fundamental role in productive development by supporting small-scale producers through training and by providing marketing spaces such as fairs and markets. These initiatives support the growth of the SSE and reinforce the engagement of local communities in collaborative economic development.

Following this path, the ISTEPS (Higher Technological Institute of the Popular and Solidarity Social Economy) is committed to supporting the sector through the technical training of professionals who promote the principles of the SSE. As an educational institution, ISTEPS operates under public legal status (https://www.isteps.edu.ec/?page_id=22974), and its operational guidelines align with the objectives of technical and technological education aimed at driving social transformation through the SSE.

Among our current activities are training programs in financial, organizational, and administrative management for cooperatives and associations, as well as continuing education programs aimed at strengthening self-management and leadership within these organizations. Currently, we are involved in projects connected to society that seek to diagnose the needs of SSE organizations and propose sustainable solutions to enhance their operational and financial capacity.