Co-Laboratorio Perú

In 2015 mining accounted for 54 per cent of Peru’s exports making the resource sector a major contributor to the country’s national economic growth. Despite this, the contribution of mining to socio-economic development and livelihoods, particularly in the mineral-rich yet poor Andean highland regions, remains unrealized. These regions continue to be beset by poverty and high levels of mining-related conflict. Some of the underlying causes are historic exclusion of various groups (Indigenous peoples, women, youth); limited capacity and presence of government as an actor at subnational levels; lack of public participation in environmental assessment processes and planning of resource extraction; uncoordinated projects and narrow CSR approaches among corporate actors. These factors underscore the systemic challenge for effective resource governance in Peru.

To-date, over 250 stakeholders (60 government officials) have engaged in Co-Lab programming with an approximate 50/50 gender split (women/men) for all Peru Co-Lab activities. Cross-sector planning groups and design-sessions have resulted in:

• Commitments by stakeholders to engage in Co-Lab projects and interventions, and contribute to an online platform
• Identification of themes and needs assessment for leadership and governance
• Designed and secured commitment of UCSP for the establishment of Change Lab program in Arequipa
• Enhanced strategic planning capacity of women leaders and identified leadership capacity needs
• Supported local researchers in identification of areas to initiate collaborative research to enhance mining industry practices and policies for contribution to sustainable development
• Participation of 50 per cent or higher of women has been achieved at all Co-Lab events and as part of all project planning and research teams.

• University partners and stakeholders in Arequipa have increased awareness and knowledge of campus-community engagement and problem-based experiential learning.
• Information gathered from agency working sessions has directly informed the development of the Digital Innovation for Shared Governance interventions and evaluation to maximize impact and community participation.
• Awareness of the use of technology in the design and application of EIAs is increased to improve inclusion of vulnerable populations in protecting key environmental resources in their communities.
• Capacity, knowledge, ability and awareness around established research approaches with Peruvian collaborators is increased through on-going collaboration, fellowships and a CIRDI scholar.