Programme description

Title: Sustainable Rural Development
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Peru
Lead executing agency: Agencia Peruana de Cooperación Internacional (APCI)
Overall term: 2003 to 2013

Context

Despite a stable macroeconomic framework and a period of expansion in the Peruvian economy, the country’s poverty rate nevertheless stood at 35 % in 2009, according to official statistics. Rural poverty is particularly high, at around 60 %. The unsustainable use and increasing destruction of natural resources are among the causes of this poverty. In addition, there is a lack of alternative sources of income. The growing incidence of climate-related natural disasters is further exacerbating the situation.

Objective

The impoverished populations in selected rural areas improve their livelihoods through the sustainable management of natural resources.

Approach

The programme promotes a close linkage between the conservation of natural resources and their sustainable exploitation. It consists of three complementary components.

Rural economic development. Organised, small-scale farming families in the programme areas are being efficiently and equitably integrated into domestic and export markets.

Management of natural resources and biodiversity operations. The regional governments in the programme areas are supported in creating and implementing instruments, methods and strategies aimed at sustainable management of the natural resources.

Nature conservation areas and biocorridors. The programme is improving the resources of the national nature conservation authority (SERNAP) and other actors and developing their capacity to manage regionally-networked nature protection systems.

The programme operates in the northern regions of Piura, Cajamarca, Amazonas and San Martin and also at national level. Its work is based on the priority area strategy paper on sustainable rural development, management of natural resources and climate change, which was developed jointly with the Peruvian partners.

Results achieved so far

• Disaster risk management in rural areas
  Since 2007, aspects of disaster risk analysis have been legally embedded in the Peruvian Ministry of Economy and Finance’s national planning system for public investment. Before public investment decisions are made, all proposals undergo disaster risk analysis, which integrates measures to reduce risk into the project planning and implementation processes. At sub-national level, regional governments in the areas where the programme is operating have improved their diagnosis and planning processes by introducing risk analysis criteria. Projects planned using these methods are much less vulnerable to natural disasters and help to ensure both the safety of those involved in the project and the sustainable use of public finances.
• Sustainable value creation from natural resources
  By raising their productivity and increasing the quality of their products, 1,500 small-scale producers in the north of Peru have been able to integrate themselves better into both domestic and export markets. At the same time, the proportion of agricultural produce brought to market has also grown and the volume of exports of selected local biodiverse products has risen on average by 184 %. The export value of these products has increased by an average of 234 %.
• Protection of resources
  The creation and promotion of so far 24 local protected areas has enhanced the protection of resources at local level. Structures have also been established for civic participation in the management of nature conservation areas.

Further information

• Local website of the programme
  Programa Desarrollo Rural Sostenible (PDRS)
  http://www.pdrs.org.pe