Natural Infrastructure for Water Security in Peru

This project aims to promote the conservation restoration and rehabilitation of natural ecosystems or “natural infrastructure” to improve Peru’s water security and climate risk resilience. The project works to build alliances with public and private actors to facilitate investments in natural infrastructure projects that improve nature’s ability to capture filter store and deliver water. The project also aims to promote the participation and leadership of women in decision-making spaces and ensure the integration of gender considerations into national climate and water policies. Project activities include: (1) working with public authorities to eliminate regulatory bottlenecks and design gender-sensitive policies and plans for water management and natural infrastructure; (2) mobilizing funding for natural infrastructure projects from new investors; (3) gathering standardized hydrological and social data in priority watersheds; and (4) working with local communities to design and implement gender-inclusive natural infrastructure projects. These projects include reforestation wetland conservation improved grazing and farming practices and the restoration of pre-Incan infiltration canals. The project’s direct beneficiaries are urban and rural populations and productive sectors such as agriculture which are vulnerable to water scarcity and floods. The project is jointly funded by the United States Agency for International Development and the Government of Canada and implemented by a consortium led by Forest Trends including the Consortium for Sustainable Development of the Andean Ecoregion the Peruvian Environmental Law Society EcoDecisión and experts from Imperial College London.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved environment for gender-sensitive investments in natural infrastructure; (2) improved information management and evidence-based decision-making on natural infrastructure; and (3) increased volume of designed financed and implemented gender-inclusive natural infrastructure investments.