Por: Roger Guevara, Gobierno Regional de Cajamarca; Violeta Vigo, Newmont ALAC, y Milton von Hesse, Von Hesse Consultores.

Trabajo con Mención Honrosa en el Foro TIS de PERUMIN 37.

Abstract

Cajamarca is the poorest region in Peru, despite having received more than S/ 2.7 billion in mining royalties and taxes between 2014 and 2024. This paradox is explained, in part, by the limited institutional capacity of public entities to plan and execute investments efficiently. According to a SERVIR report (2019), only 2% of the officials responsible for executing public investments are fully qualified to perform their duties. Meanwhile, the region ranks among the lowest in public investment execution, reaching barely 46% in 2021.

To address this challenge, the “Gestores del Desarrollo” (Development Managers) program was implemented between 2022 and 2023. Promoted by Newmont ALAC, together with the National University of Cajamarca, the Roundtable for the Fight Against Poverty, and the Chamber of Commerce and Production of Cajamarca. The initiative strengthened the capacities of more than 400 public officials and community leaders in key areas such as territorial planning, public management, and investment. This effort helped build institutional foundations and strategic partnerships to support ongoing interventions.

Building on that experience, and in coordination with the Regional Government of Cajamarca, Newmont ALAC launched a comprehensive technical assistance strategy in 2024, titled Cajamarca hacia el desarrollo territorial: fortaleciendo la gestión de inversiones públicas (Cajamarca toward territorial development: strengthening public investment management). Its objective was to improve the efficiency of public management at the regional level and lay the groundwork for sustainable territorial development. A specialized consulting team was engaged in designing and implementing the strategy’s technical components.

The strategy focused on four key areas: (i) technical support for a prioritized investment portfolio, (ii) development of digital tools for monitoring and transparency, (iii) preparation of a prospective investment portfolio aligned with closing social gaps, and (iv) internal management process diagnostics and improvement. As a result, the Regional Government of Cajamarca achieved a record 84% public investment execution rate in 2024, well above historical averages. Additionally, institutional capacities were strengthened, replicable management tools and public information access systems were developed, and a long-term strategic investment roadmap was established to improve the well-being of the Cajamarca population.

This experience demonstrates that public-private collaboration, when technical, horizontal, and results-oriented, can serve as a powerful and effective catalyst to transform public management and drive regional development.