Peru Shared Vision Planning

Peru had the world's highest rate of GDP growth in 2008, and it continues to be a regional leader in economic growth. However, most of this growth occurs along the arid Pacific coast, which accounts for 1.8% of Peru’s renewable fresh water supply, where 70% of the population lives and where 80% of total water use satisfies agriculture, largely for export. Shortages in water due to inefficient use; competing uses; lack of infrastructure; droughts; and deteriorating water quality due to unregulated effluents from mining, industries, municipalities and uncontrolled use of agrochemicals; is creating increased social conflicts and limiting economic development. In a country where 50% of the population is poor, addressing social conflicts and sustaining economic growth is central to a national strategy for development.

Partly to address increasing conflicts due to water shortages on the arid Pacific coast Peru is undergoing a fundamental shift in the way water resources are managed. In March 2009, a new water law was passed authorizing the creation of a National Water Authority (ANA) and River Basin Councils (RBC) to implement Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) planning. The new law establishes a clear mandate for basin-scale water resources planning, integration of sectoral policies, participation of stakeholders, decentralization of management to the river basin level, and recognition of water as both a social and economic good. In order to implement this modernization of water resources management, which includes the development of IWRM plans, ANA is committing US$40 million (The World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank are providing about US$20 million each in loans).

ICIWaRM has been supporting ANA by building capacity and developing guidelines to develop IWRM plans at six priority pilot basins that drain to the Pacific. To date, ICIWaRM has helped develop the Terms of Reference that ANA has put for competitive bidding by international consultant firms, and has provided training workshops for national and regional ANA staff and stakeholders. ICIWaRM promoted and crafted an approach for IWRM planning, based on shared vision planning principles, which integrates water resources planning, structure participation, and collaborative water resources systems modeling. ICIWaRM has been working with ANA staff to modify shared vision planning guidelines based on Peru's unique needs.

To help launch the planning process in the Chili river basin of Peru, ICIWaRM led a four-day "inception" workshop that exposed stakeholders to the new water law and institutions, to the shared vision planning methodology, and subsequent IWRM planning process. This workshop contained presentations and group exercises facilitated in coordination with ANA staff to obtain feedback from stakeholders of major planning hurdles and to help generate their expectations and commitments. Similar "inception" workshops were implemented in four other basins led by trained ANA staff, with ICIWaRM assistance.

There are two phases planned of future collaboration with ANA. The first future phase of support, which is expected to have a five month duration, will build capacity of additional regional ANA staff to develop an initial base shared vision planning model and develop capabilities for technical support to consultant firms in shared vision planning. The second phase of support (2 years) is geared towards providing advisory assistance to ANA and supervisory assistance of firms by helping evaluate products and milestones delivered by firms towards an IWRM planning that can be agreed upon by each river basin council with support of stakeholders and ultimately approved by ANA.

For further information, please contact Guillermo Mendoza.