Rural women and public procurement: a legal strategy to promote environmental conservation in Chimborazo

Authors

Julio A. Alvarado-Vélez Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo, Riobamba, Ecuador. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5403-7210

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33936/nullius.v6i1.7227

Keywords:

public procurement; solidarity economy; rural development; public policies.

Abstract

This paper analyzes the impact of public procurement on the participation of rural women from an association in San Juan, Chimborazo, with an emphasis on economic and environmental sustainability. To this end, the study evaluated how the provisions of the Organic Law of the National Public Procurement System (LOSNCP) and its regulations promote the inclusion of actors from the popular and solidarity economy in rural communities. Using a mixed-methods approach, surveys and semi-structured interviews were conducted with active members of the association, selected through convenience sampling. Quantitative data were systematically analyzed using statistical methods, while qualitative data were analyzed through thematic coding; in addition, a detailed normative analysis of the LOSNCP and its regulations was performed. The results revealed limited knowledge of the regulations among the participants, highlighting their lack of awareness of public procurement procedures, which hinders their participation. Furthermore, administrative, financial, and gender-related barriers limit their access to these opportunities, emphasizing the complexity of the Single Supplier Registry and the lack of initial capital. However, participants recognized the potential of public procurement to improve their income and highlighted their sustainable practices, such as the cultivation of mashua without agrochemicals, which have not been sufficiently valued in public processes. It is concluded that, although the regulatory framework has the potential to promote inclusion, its effective implementation requires training, incentives for sustainable practices, and adjustments to administrative procedures to ensure sustainable and equitable development in rural communities.

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Published

2025-05-27

How to Cite

[1]

Alvarado-Vélez, J.A. 2025. Rural women and public procurement: a legal strategy to promote environmental conservation in Chimborazo. Nullius: Law Critical Thinking Journal. 6, 1 (May 2025), 19–32. DOI:https://doi.org/10.33936/nullius.v6i1.7227.