Author(s): Chris Hughes; Paul Swift; Sergio Martin
Linked Author(s): Chris Hughes
Keywords: Climate Change Adaptation Integrated Catchment Management Flood Resilience for Extreme events
Abstract: Synopsis The presentation will tell the climate change adaptation story of the $5 billion Peru Reconstruction Project, from the devastation of the El Nino floods in 2017 to the programmes inception in 2020 to its current date. It will also detail how it has and will over the remaining 2 years of the programme, leave Peru and its people with a long lasting climate change adaptation legacy so the country is better equipped to manage similar events in the future. Introduction In 2017, the El Nino phenomenon devastated Peru, damaging hospitals, schools, roads, transport links and critical infrastructure, destroying 115,000 homes and leaving 178,000 people homeless in Peru and affecting 1.9 million people including 628,244 children. In 2020 and still in the wake of this extreme event, the UK Department for International Trade signed an agreement with the Peruvian government to aid the reconstruction of critical infrastructure to provide a national climate change adaptation programme for future El Nino events. This infrastructure consisted of new education and healthcare infrastructure and integrated water management climate change adaptation and resilient infrastructure to manage future extreme El Nino events. These integrated water management solutions are an holistic flood and water management infrastructure programme to ensure the resilience of these facilities and also protect vulnerable communities against future floods. Under the Government to Government Agreement, the UK Delivery Team (UKDT) -- Arup, Mace, and Gleeds -- was appointed to accelerate the delivery of this work and ensure international standards of quality, working initially with Peru’s Authority for Reconstruction with Change (ARCC) and then more recently the newly established National Infrastructure Authority (ANIN). The Programme The Integrated Water Management Climate Change Adaptation Programme combines the development of structural, non-structural and nature-based solutions across 17 river and 5 gully basins comprising 900km of river protection, urban drainage in six cities and the installation of an early warning system to mitigate the impact of future disasters. The nature-based solutions encompass interventions in the restoration of native ecosystems and ancestral technologies (such as stone dykes and terraced systems), to mitigate overland flows and soil erosion. The climate change adaptation programme is realising a $5 billion investment to protect 16 million Peruvians from future floods. The total number of projects are: - 15x hospitals & health centres - 74x Schools - 17x river projects - 7x drainage projects - 5x gully projects - A national early warning system - A national natural infrastructure programme. The National Natural Infrastructure Programme comprises 51,000 ha Natural infrastructure interventions in middle and upper catchments and 56M trees to be planted providing approximately 220,000 tonnes of carbon capture per year The Partnership Following the signing of the Government to Government Agreement, collaborative agreement was set up with The Autoridad para la Reconstruccion con Cambios (ARCC) and more recently, with the new Peruvian National Infrastructure Authority (ANIN) to deliver the programme in partnership. The partnerships key aim was to accelerate the flood disaster risk reduction and resilience against future El Nino floods whilst developing and leaving a lasting legacy to ANIN and its communities to better manage future events. - Achieving Objectives: From Baseline to Implementation The primary objective of Integrated Solutions is to mitigate flood risks, safeguard communities, and prevent a recurrence of the devastation caused by the 2017 El Nino floods. To achieve this, the UK Delivery Team (UKDT) ensured rigorous evaluation of Baseline Information at the project’s inception. Pre-Investment Profiles (PIPs), prepared by Peruvian agencies, were scrutinised, with issues identified and addressed. The UKDT’s team technical insights informed tender documents, ensuring contractors were equipped with accurate and actionable data to target the issues identified. This early intervention allowed the refinement of project goals, establishment of clear deliverables, and consensus around solutions aligned with international best practices. By embedding lessons learned into every phase, UKDT facilitated smoother transitions from conceptual designs to actionable deliverables. - Procurement Excellence UKDT’s leadership of procurement defined the success of the programme. By introducing the NEC framework, contracts were tailored to balance flexibility and cost certainty, adopting NEC different contracts for different procurement strategies to ultimately achieve optimal outcomes for ANIN. UKDT’s input into drafting technical guidance documents and Works Information packages ensured consistency, clarity, and alignment with discipline-specific best practices. This streamlined procurement process set a high standard for transparency and efficiency, significantly reducing project risks and delays. - Assurance Throughout Design and Construction UKDT’s Technical, Delivery, Cost, and Commercial Assurance has been instrumental in guiding projects through their design and construction stages. UKDT adapted RIBA terminology combined with local expertise to develop a stage-gate framework for entire project lifecycle bespoke to the Peruvian context. At the design stage, rigorous reviews ensured that technical deliverables met the expectations defined by internationally recognised standards. For example, at the end RIBA Stage 4, UKDT established workflows to review designs and analysed the prepared construction documents while addressing scientific studies critical to river defence projects, using specialists including: hydrologists; geologists; geomorphologists; hydraulic modellers; geotechnical engineers’ structural designers; and, civil works experts from around UKDT’s global team of experts. During RIBA Stage 5, ANIN provided invaluable support on accommodating design adjustments necessitated by rare archaeological sites. UKDT teams advised on optimising construction methods, performing site visits and controlling costs and valuations. Site visits conducted by UKDT ensured continuous monitoring and resolution of on-site challenges. Accessing project sites in the Andes posed significant challenges due to their remote locations, rugged terrain, and limited infrastructure, often requiring strict risk assessments and precautions to guarantee health and safety. These visits have not only been fundamental for capacity building of site supervision teams and strengthening relationships with the contractors and communities, but also in the recording and dissemination of observations. Visits have informed ongoing project refinements, ensuring the practical applicability of technical solutions. - Measuring Value to Society: The Role of Social Cost-Benefit Analysis (SCBA) The success of Integrated Solutions is also measured through a UKDT built Social Cost Benefit Analysis (SCBA) tool. This economic framework evaluates project costs against avoided damages to critical infrastructure, housing, and other public services. By implementing flood defences, urban drainage systems, and natural infrastructure, the programme checks the proposed works are economically viable and socially beneficial. Indirect benefits and costs have also been taken into consideration in these assessments. For instance, multipurpose reservoirs and sediment retention dams not only control flooding but also provide additional benefits, such as water storage for agriculture and energy generation. Urban drainage projects mitigate flood risks, reducing significantly illnesses such as Dengue caused by ponding water in densely populated areas, directly protecting livelihoods and property. These benefits demonstrate to decision-makers and communities, the sustainability and economic viability of the investments. - Delivering a Legacy of Resilience A fundamental component of the partnership is leaving a legacy to the Peruvian Government and its peoples so the country is better equipped to manage these projects and then deliver similar these projects in the future. To date, ANIN has become the best performing government authority in the country, generating unprecedented confidence in the public sector ability to deliver large infrastructure programmes. The has ultimately led to a systemic change in the Peruvian public sector and its mentality, delivering unprecedented pace and transparency in public procurement and delivery. The legacy is delivering a comprehensive knowledge transfer programme to local professionals so they can manage Peru's infrastructure projects in the future with a sustainable and resilient approach. This is encompassing the generation of new new design standards for the country and a legacy of digital tools and approaches
Year: 2025