The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will lend more than US$ 350 million (EUR 221 million) to Peru over the next five years for the development of sanitation and water projects, benefiting over 100,000 families. The funding will cover investment, structural reforms and technical cooperation, assisting initiatives in the areas surrounding capital Lima and other cities.

In 2007 the IDB launched the Water and Sanitation Initiative (2007-2011), which plans to provide water and sanitation services to 100 cities and 3,000 rural communities in Latin America, protect 20 micro river basins, and support sector utilities.

The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) has confirmed a US$ 220mn (EUR 139 million) soft loan for potable water and sewerage projects in Peru, housing, construction and sanitation. The loan is destined for water and sewerage projects to be carried out in city Iquitos, in Loreto department, in Cajamarca and in northern Lima.

Web sites:

• IDB Water and Sanitation Initiative web site
• Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)

Sources: BNamericas.com [subscription site], 25 Mar 2008 and IDB Peru [in Spanish], 24 Mar 2008 ; BNamericas.com [subscription site], 26 Mar 2008