Following the devastating loss of lives and livelihoods during the El Niño climate cycle in 2017, the UK Department for International Trade signed a government-to-government agreement in June 2020 with the Government of Peru to help accelerate the reconstruction of vital schools, health facilities, and flood protection.

The UK Delivery Team (UKDT) of Arup, Mace and Gleeds have been working with the Authority for Reconstruction with Changes (ARCC) to apply international best practice to the reconstruction of resilient and sustainable facilities and infrastructure.

To protect communities against future extreme weather events, the UKDT is accelerating the implementation of sustainable flood prevention by improving 17 river basins, five gullies and seven drainage systems across seven regions. A national Early Warning System is also being implemented to help the public prepare and reduce the impact of natural disasters in high-risk areas.

Arup, as part of the UK Delivery Team in partnership with the Peruvian Government and Contractors, are applying global best practice to ensure that infrastructure is designed and delivered focusing on climate resilience and long-term sustainability to protect and enhance lives. 

Working in partnership and applying best practice, focusing on climate resilience and long-term sustainability, are key to ensuring that infrastructure is designed and delivered successfully. This allows for integrated flood defence infrastructure to be designed using the latest digital solutions which will positively impact communities and the environment.

Through collaborative work, the programme demonstrates and delivers sustainable water infrastructure as a fundamental part of the G2G agreement, to protect and enhance lives, homes and livelihoods against catastrophic weather events. In a new approach for Peru, the programme is designing river defences using long term, forward looking climate data and bespoke digital solutions to visualise and select the most efficient design options and consider the impact on the environment, as well as the potential community benefits and economic challenges.