Gran Tierra Energy’s flagship Ecuador social investment project Sustainable Sucumbíos, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, focuses on transforming agricultural processes to make them more profitable and sustainable. GTE has invested US$3.3 million over four years, which has directly benefited local families in Ecuador, by improving agricultural productivity and increasing household income through agricultural technical assistance, training and supplies. This initiative supports long-term agricultural development by enhancing crop productivity, strengthening local livelihoods, and promoting environmentally responsible farming practices in the region.

GTE’s commitment to fostering sustainable growth in Ecuadorian communities through this project has delivered meaningful results. Notable achievements include the distribution of approximately 80,000 cacao plants to local farmers and the delivery of agricultural machinery units and cows to support the growth of farming operations in the region. In addition to the resources given to the local families participating in the program, GTE provides technical skills development through training and workshops. In 2024, 312 people attended workshops focused on gender inclusivity and financial guidance and 224 people were trained in agriculture and livestock field schools.

The project was first developed and implemented together with local communities of the 5 Ases, October 15, Lojanitos, La Milagreña, Pio Jaramillo and Rey del Oriente communities and in 2024, Sustainable Sucumbíos was expanded to include the communities of Union Balsareña, Patria Nueva, and Santa Mariana. To date, the program has benefited 741 families in the area surrounding GTE’s operations.

“The training we received has given us what we need to begin to plant, maintain and harvest our cacao more productively. It’s early in the process, but I’m already implementing the new techniques and I’m confident they will be beneficial.”

Jose Luiz Tacuri

Farmer, 15 Octubre, Sucumbíos

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GTE’s successful Key Partners program has evolved from a simple award given to the best performing vendors into an integrated, multi-stage program with five components. This program has led to tremendous growth in the capabilities, capacity and competitiveness of vendors in the areas where the company operates.

GTE’s Key Partners program helps supply chain partners develop their technical and administrative capabilities. Key Partners includes educational programs tailored to the needs of local suppliers in partnership with well-respected academic institutions and regional Chambers of Commerce. Key Partners also facilitates relationships between contractors and local suppliers, fostering a growing ecosystem of opportunities for area businesses. Performance evaluations measure, recognize, and reward outstanding vendors.

Components of Key Partners

• Developing close, beneficial relationships with existing and potential vendors through continuous contact with dedicated company staff. This ensures ongoing dialogue and alignment between vendor and company.
• Dedicated high-value training offered to managers and owners of vendor companies delivered in partnership with regional Chambers of Commerce.
• Supply Chain standards that ensure GTE’s contractors are also sourcing from local suppliers.
• Performance evaluations that measure, recognize and reward outstanding vendors.
• Facilitating relationships between contractors and local suppliers to foster a growing ecosystem of opportunities for area businesses.

Gran Tierra’s Commitment to our Key Partners

• Economic Growth
  Gran Tierra Energy promotes free competition as a constitutional right. This encourages local businesses to provide higher quality goods and services not only to our operations, but also to Colombia and Ecuador.
• Education Development
  Gran Tierra develops educational programs tailored to the needs of our local suppliers. Through these programs we are providing opportunities for educational advancement with well-respected academic institutions.
• Improved Networking
  We provide our Key Partners with full access to the database for commercial opportunities with Gran Tierra and our contractors.
• Sustainable Relationships
  Gran Tierra recognizes the importance of sustaining strong relationships with our suppliers and contractors through our Key Partners program. We are always willing to listen and assist our Key Partners.

Members of the Key Partners Program are Expected To:

• Offer high quality goods and services.
• Submit competitive proposals, both in price and quality, when invited to bid.
• Be a collaborative partner with the goal of ensuring that GTE operations are carried out safely and accurately.
• Respect corporate decisions made by GTE or its contractors.
• Understand and apply GTE’s Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Policies in their business practices.
• Participate in activities developed by GTE aimed at strengthening business skills.

“When we started, we were just a small company knocking on doors, and many turned us down. When we were given a chance with Gran Tierra it was transformative. Now, because of our track record of meeting GTE’s high standards, we are often first in line for projects with other companies. We see our relationship as a partnership, and when GTE succeeds, we succeed. ”

Andres Aguilar

Servicios y Soluciones Innovadoras de Ingeniería

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GTE continues to increase opportunities for local contractors and suppliers through a strategy focusing on putting local companies first to meet its needs for goods and services, only expanding its search beyond the locality if no qualified providers are available. Local vendors are an important driver of regional economies, as GTE’s contributions circulate well beyond its direct supply chain.

Providing opportunities for local businesses to participate and evolve with GTE’s operations is a fundamental value. Significant investments have been made in training, education and operations to drive economic growth and build a reliable supply chain through its award-winning Key Partners program.

“Since we first entered the hydrocarbon transportation sector, we’ve continuously learned and improved. We have taken the knowledge we gained from GTE in Colombia and implemented it in our operations here in Ecuador to build a safer and more efficient operation.”

Edwin Jiménez

President, Cooperativa de Transporte, Lago Agrio, Ecuador

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Emprender+, GTE’s signature entrepreneurship-based social investment project, is a critical component of GTE’s efforts to address local economic challenges. For the last several years, the program has created opportunities for people to strengthen their businesses and launch new companies while bolstering local economies in Colombia’s Middle Magdalena Valley and Putumayo regions.

Emprender+ provides technical training, business management guidance, and seed capital along with recognition for innovative business ideas and execution. The program, carried out in partnership with the World Corporation for Women in Colombia (CMMC), also helps entrepreneurs navigate the technical, administrative and management challenges of operating a small business. The popularity of the program has grown steadily and rapidly from 30 to over 700 participating entrepreneurs since its inception, 74% of participants have been female, and over 2,000 people were registered to participate since the program started in 2021.

For more information on Emprender+ visit the program’s website here.

“The program gave me the structure I needed and taught me how to think like a business owner. That made the difference.”

JESENIA LINDARTE ANGARITA

Owner, Empacadora Macarena

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Works for Taxes (WFT) is a program created by the Colombian government that allows GTE to use up to 50% of its income tax contributions to directly develop and implement local projects that improve livelihoods, support economic development and help stabilize territories most affected by poverty and the previous armed conflict. WFT is also an important component of Colombia’s Territorially Focused Development Programs (PDETs) following the 2016 peace agreement signed between the FARC-EP guerrilla movement and the Colombian government. The PDETs are a vital tool for rural development and lasting territorial peace that empowers local communities to decide how funds should be invested in their territories.

GTE’s participation in Colombia’s Works for Taxes program allows income taxes to be invested directly into priority areas to address social inequality—such as food security, health, education, and road enhancements.

Gran Tierra Energy has invested more than USD$21 million in the PDET municipalities of Putumayo, including its 2024 commitment of USD$14.3 million—the largest investment by any private company—to deliver four major infrastructure projects in Putumayo. The projects were chosen by local communities in consultation with GTE employees and are implemented in Mocoa, Puerto Asís, Orito, and Valle del Guamuez municipalities. GTE’s investments include a new aqueduct system to provide a consistent supply of clean water to communities that have long struggled with access to clean potable water. This project will benefit 1,300 residents in rural areas near Puerto Asís. In addition, GTE is undergoing the improvement of rural roads, which in total will benefit ~24,000 area residents.

Another example of a previous Work for Taxes project previously implemented by Gran Tierra Energy included providing cafeteria upgrades to hundreds of local schools. Through this project, GTE provided kitchen equipment including refrigerators, freezers and ovens as well as tables and chairs for 152 school cafeterias through the WFT program. These projects benefited over 12,000 students and teachers, supporting increased food security for local students, as the participating schools now have the ability to store and prepare nutritious food, keeping students in school longer.

Other projects include improving sanitation infrastructure in multiple communities and upgrading roads to connect thousands in the rural communities between Campo Alegre and Puerto Vega-Teteyé.

“As a rural community, Works for Taxes is so important to keep the benefits here, and allows us to focus on improving our transportation infrastructure. The project has had a huge impact, and we are looking forward to extending this collaboration to continue changing the lives of our people and helping them envision a different future.”

SEGUNDO RUBIEL SOLARTE

President, Jac Santa Maria Medio

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