Our Subnational Public Finance Management (PFM) Strengthening Programme in Peru is ramping up efforts to encourage peer learning, capacity building and innovation on public-sector integrity, with the first joint public integrity workshop held on 14 July 2023.

Leaders from six regional governments joined representatives from Peru’s central Public Integrity Secretariat and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to discuss progress and challenges in the country’s Regional Integrity Strengthening Agenda.

The San Martín region of northern Peru is known for its Amazon rainforest and rich biodiversity. To protect these, the regional authorities have recently agreed an action plan to reduce corruption risks in the timber trade, which is an important local source of livelihoods.

The action plan is based on principles of integrity and transparency and takes into account Peruvian laws and regulations such as the General Guidelines to Implement Internal Control Systems and Recommendations for the Management of Risks Affecting Public Integrity.

It has taken nearly 20 years, but a decision by the Swiss Federal Supreme Court has cleared the way for the return of around USD 8.5 million in corruptly obtained assets to Peru. The money to be returned is part of a complex of cases linked to Vladimiro Montesinos, Head of Intelligence under former President Alberto Fujimori.

The head of Peru's Judiciary, Javier Arévalo Vela, has publicly highlighted Peru's success in recovering the proceeds of corruption and related financial crimes through its non-conviction based forfeiture law, Extinción de Dominio.

The subsystem Peru has rolled out to implement the law "allows the state to recover money from cases of corruption, money laundering and more" he said. Around USD 64 million have already been recovered, with many more cases in the pipeline.

A new report reveals the challenges that local and regional governments in Peru face in implementing public investment projects such as energy, transport and telecommunications infrastructure.

Its analysis, case studies and recommendations will help all those implementing or monitoring public projects to anticipate problems and better achieve objectives.

Peru has taken an important step towards improving integrity in its public administration and the ability of public-sector entities to deliver services to citizens.