FUNDECOIPA differ from many other volunteer projects by being managed entirely by the local indigenous peoples. Our boards of directors as well as staff are recruited in the local Shuar communities. The vision is to achieve long term sustainability of the projects by securing full ownership to the indigenous communities as well as gaining the capacity from administrating the projects.

Building up sufficient managerial skills is a long term process when starting out with subsistence farmers. In this process volunteers are considered a crucial and part by exchanging ideas and knowledge with the villagers as well as providing suggestions for improving the projects and general development of the indigenous communities.