Peru
Victor Hugo Pachas looks out over land that has been devastated by illegal and small-scale gold mining. Photo by Óscar Leiva for CRS
Catholic Relief Services has been in Peru for close to 60 years. Although Peru has shown sustained economic growth in recent years and is now considered a middle-income country, huge gaps between rich and poor still pose major challenges. In addition to disaster response preparations, we are currently working with poor indigenous communities in the northern Amazon region and the southern department of Madre de Dios. Our projects train local indigenous communities to increase and improve their knowledge of extractive industry activities in their territories; the management of local resources; and how to advocate for more justice and equity around extractives policies having harmful impacts in their area. The majority of these efforts are carried out through our various church partners.
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Stats
| Population: | 29,549,517 (July 2012 est.) |
| Size: | 496,225 sq. mi.; slightly smaller than Alaska |
| People Served: | 48,805 (2012 est.) |
History
Catholic Relief Services has been in Peru since the 1950s working with church partners to alleviate suffering and reduce poverty through the development of multiple projects, including agricultural, human rights, food distribution, microfinance, AIDS counseling and civil society strengthening. Beginning in 2009, CRS adopted a new zonal development strategy for South America that changed our traditional focus for the country. A new singular strategy for both Bolivia and Peru was developed that would help CRS focus in helping poor indigenous communities achieve better access to and management of their natural resources.
Partners
CooperAcciónCEAS: Peruvian Conference of Bishops' Social Action Commission
CAAAP: The Amazonian Center for Anthropology and Practical Application
Programs
Civil Society and GovernanceDisaster Response
Peacebuilding
