In 2000, Peru returned to democracy after 20 years of military regimes and guerrilla warfare. But gross inequalities remain.
A small elite of Spanish descent controls most of Peru's wealth and political power, while the indigenous minority is largely excluded from both.
ActionAid in Peru
ActionAid supports the work of our Spanish sister organisation, Ayuda en Acción, in Peru.
We work in the province of Caraveli, on the south western coast. The main focus of our work is to improve health, education, livelihoods and access to safe water.
We assist fishermen, support the training of community health workers and teachers, build or renovate schools and health posts, and run education campaigns on the prevention and treatment of common illnesses.
Local community involvement is the basis of all our work. We work closely with communities, helping them to identify their needs and take charge of their own development and destiny.
"The support provided by ActionAid to us fishermen is really useful, particularly the training, as most of the fishermen are unfamiliar with techniques of preserving, processing, marketing and species conservation... I am really pleased that ActionAid has provided us with nets, navigation equipment, boats and engines to help us in our work and safety at sea... We have seen that together we are able to store a higher quantity and variety of fish and we are able to negotiate a better selling price."
Adrian Campos Bustillos, 59, is a member of the Lomas Port Fishers Association, supported by ActionAid.
Essential Stats
| Peru | Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 29.1 million (2009) | 21.5 million (2009) |
| Area | 1,285,216 km2 | 7,703,581 km2 |
| Gross Domestic Product (GDP) | $158.037 billion (2009) | $970.6 billion (2009) |
| GDP per capita | $5430 (2009) | $44,958 (2009) |
| Human Development Index | 0.5773 (2006) | 0.965 (2006) |
| Life Expectancy (male/female) | 69/74 (2005-2010) | 79/84 (2005-2010) |
| Adult Literacy % | 87.9 (1995-2005) | 99 (1995-2005) |
SOURCES: IMF, UN Data, HDI, UN Statistics
