Designing a Rural Development Strategy for Peru's Sierra

Poverty and economic stagnation
characterize most rural areas in Peru. National growth has
been slow and uneven since the mid-1970s, benefiting urban
areas rather than rural ones. Between 1985 and 2000, the
number of poor people increased by 71 percent. The incidence
of poverty (67 percent) and extreme poverty (40 percent) is
highest in rural areas, reaching 73 percent (poverty) and 41
percent (extreme poverty) in the sierra. This means that 4.2
million rural people live with incomes 30 percent below the
poverty line and 2.3 million people live in extreme poverty.
Regional specific policies to fight poverty may be
warranted, notably a strategy for rural development in the
sierra aiming for more equitable economic growth and reduced
poverty. This brief includes the following headlines:
detailed analysis; recommendations; notes; lessons learned;
about the author; and about 'en breve'.