Country Description:

CARE first established its mission in Peru in 1952 and worked in the education sector until 1958. In 1970, activities resumed in response to the devastating earthquake in the Hauylas Mountains and have continued since. In response to the earthquake, CARE provided emergency relief and reconstructed water systems. This emergency response work turned into a longer-term focus on reforestation, natural resources, small business development and health promotion through the early 1990s.

Today, CARE Peru’s programs are structured around empowering vulnerable groups, especially women, indigenous groups and rural populations, to exercise their rights. CARE is focused on supporting the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals through programs in the areas of climate change, economic development, education, emergency and disaster risk reduction, gender equality, governance and extractive industries, health, HIV & AIDS, nutrition and integrated water resource management. Specifically, CARE aims to increase household income, reduce chronic malnutrition, improve education quality, reduce maternal and infant mortality, improve access to water and sanitation and improve regional and local governance. CARE Peru is a registered as a Peruvian NGO and in the process of becoming a full member of CARE International.