Women Paving the Way: Closing the Gender Gap in Road Maintenance in Ecuador Lincoln FlorNathaly NoboaAitor Franco Arana March 06, 2026 This page in: English Español © 2026 The World Bank Group,

https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/latinamerica/mujeres-que-abren-caminos--cerrar-la-brecha-de-genero-en-el-mant Road maintenance, drainage clearing, pothole repair—these are still widely stereotyped as “men’s jobs.” But across rural Ecuador, women are proving otherwise. In the provinces Manabí, Tungurahua, and Pichincha, community-based road maintenance associations, are creating space for women to lead crews, manage resources, and keep essencial routes open. They do so through routine and preventive maintenance that helps connect their families to schools, health services, and markets. © 2026 The World Bank Group,