Peru expands public works program to boost climate resilience
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In Peru, the government is expanding the Obras por Impuestos (Works for Taxes) program to focus on preventing and mitigating the effects of climate change.
For over fifteen years, Obras por Impuestos has used private sector execution to improve infrastructure, and it is now gaining momentum. Between January and July, ProInversión awarded 438 projects worth S/ 6,702 million, which is four times the amount from the same period in 2025.
This increased capacity is especially important given forecasts of an extraordinary El Niño coastal event between September 2026 and January 2027, with a probability of at least 62 percent according to ENFEN. A recent emergency decree allows ministries to approve and update lists of services related to prevention, preparation, response, and rehabilitation from El Niño, using the Obras por Impuestos mechanism.
The Ministry of Agrarian Development (Midagri) has already prioritized services like cleaning waterways, pumping water, stabilizing slopes, and temporary water storage. Other sectors could also develop their own portfolios of services. The Ministry of Environment (Minam) could focus on waste collection and recycling logistics, while the Ministry of Development and Social Inclusion (Midis) could support essential services like soup kitchens and childcare centers with preventative infrastructure and safe water access.
The program could also provide financial support, such as guarantees to help critical organizations recover equipment or continue operations after heavy rainfall. Marian Buraschi, a partner and director at Libélula, suggests that measuring success should focus on risk reduction and service continuity, not just project execution.
