Martín Vizcarra served as the governor of Moquegua, a southern region of Peru, from 2011 to 2014, representing the independent movement "Regional Integration for You" (Spanish: Integración Regional por Ti). His administration is widely recognized as one of the most successful regional governments in Peru, with a focus on sustainable development, public investment, and conflict resolution.

Under Vizcarra’s leadership, Moquegua experienced major improvements in education, infrastructure, and economic competitiveness. The region achieved the highest national performance in student evaluations, with per-student spending far exceeding the national average. His policies emphasized responsible use of natural resources and environmental protection, with particular attention to balancing the interests of local communities and mining companies. One of the defining moments of his tenure was the negotiation of the Quellaveco mining project, where Vizcarra facilitated a dialogue that secured a social license, resolving community concerns about environmental impact.

The Peruvian Institute of Economics credited his administration with making Moquegua the second most competitive region in the country, after Lima. Vizcarra’s pragmatic approach to governance—marked by transparency, economic growth, and an emphasis on education—set a standard for regional management. His success in Moquegua laid the foundation for his rise to national prominence, eventually leading to his role as Peru's vice president and later president.

Martín Vizcarra, a Peruvian civil engineer and politician, was born in Lima but is closely associated with Moquegua, a southern region of Peru.^[1] He earned a civil engineering degree from the National University of Engineering in 1984 and a management degree from ESAN in 2009.^[2]

Vizcarra's career included roles in both the public and private sectors. He worked as an executive for the Pasto Grande Regional Special Project (1978–1991) and was involved in family-owned businesses, including C&M Vizcarra and Agrotécnica Estuquiña. In public service, he held positions such as dean of the College of Engineers of Moquegua (2008–2009) and board member of Empresa de Generación Eléctrica del Sur (2007–2010). He also contributed to regional development through various advisory and leadership roles.^[3]

Vizcarra's political career began in Moquegua, where he ran for the presidency of the Regional Government of Moquegua in 2006 as a candidate for the Peruvian Aprista Party, though he finished second. He gained national attention in 2008 by leading the "Moqueguazo" protests, advocating for fairer distribution of mining royalties between Moquegua and Tacna. As president of the technical commission of "Frente de Defensa de los Intereses de Moquegua," he successfully negotiated changes to the mining revenue law, benefiting Moquegua.^[4] This role in resolving the conflict bolstered his reputation, leading to his eventual rise as governor of the region.^[5]

These changes in the mining royalty legislation allowed Moquegua to be one of the regions that benefited the most from the high royalty transfers during the 2000s commodities boom and to be a source of financing for public projects in this region.^[6]

In 2010, Martín Vizcarra ran for the presidency of the Regional Government of Moquegua under the independent regional movement "Integración Regional por Ti" (Regional Integration for You). His campaign focused on promoting regional development, improving public infrastructure, and strengthening local governance.^[5] Vizcarra's platform emphasized economic growth through the responsible use of Moquegua’s natural resources, particularly its agricultural and mineral sectors, while also advocating for greater transparency and efficiency in public administration. In his campaign, he also included a program that contemplated the resolution of the Quellaveco conflict through the creation of a dialogue table.^[7]

In the regional elections, Vizcarra obtained 38.5% of the votes, winning by a landslide. He was governor during the 2011–2014 period.

In his "Institutional Strategic Plan 2011-2014", his administration promoted investment in mining and agriculture, improving education and healthcare, and addressing poverty and inequality.^[8] He prioritized infrastructure projects to enhance regional connectivity and basic services, while also advocating for environmental protection and sustainable development. Additionally, Vizcarra supported gender equality within his administration.^[8]

In 2011, regional GDP reached 7,785 million soles (US$ 2,414 million), while in 2014 it reached 8,370 million soles (US$ 2,596 million). The Peruvian Institute of Economics highlights that Vizcarra made Moquegua the second most competitive region behind Lima, the capital of Peru.^[5]

During his term as governor of Moquegua, Martin Vizcarra oversaw important improvements in the region's education sector.^[9] Under his administration, Moquegua's schools achieved first place in the Student Census Evaluation conducted by Peru's Ministry of Education. The region's students outperformed the national average in mathematics and reading comprehension tests, scoring more than three times higher than the national results.^[9]

Public investment in education under Vizcarra's leadership was notably high.^[10] By 2014, the last year of his governorship, Moquegua's per-student spending in primary education reached 5,146 soles, compared to the national average of 2,606 soles. Vizcarra also implemented a project aimed at enhancing educational services through the integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in schools.^[10] This initiative, developed in partnership with a mining company, benefited approximately 30,000 students.

In addition to these measures, investments were made in educational infrastructure, as well as in support programs for teachers and schools. These efforts were recognized for producing significant positive outcomes in the region's educational system.^[5]

During Vizcarra's term in office, a major case of conflict resolution involved the Quellaveco mining project, operated by Anglo American.^[11] Concerns arose among local residents regarding potential contamination of drinking water due to mining activities.^[11][12] In response, a dialogue table was established in March 2011, initiated by Vizcarra and facilitated by the national government. This platform aimed to address socio-environmental concerns and secure a "social license" for the project, allowing the mining company to proceed with local community support.^[7]

The dialogue table brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from Moquegua’s civil society, local and regional authorities, Anglo American, and the national government.^[6] The discussions centred on environmental and social issues, with the goal of finding mutually acceptable solutions. Vizcarra played a key role in mediating between the different parties, identifying their interests and guiding the negotiations towards outcomes that benefited both the community and the mining company.^[7]

After several months of discussions, agreements were reached in July 2012. These included the modification of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the mining project, a commitment by Anglo American to prioritize local labor in hiring, and the creation of a fund worth 1 billion soles for environmental remediation and social programs. These measures helped alleviate community concerns and led to the approval of the project’s social license.^[5]

The success of the Quellaveco dialogue process is largely attributed to the proactive involvement of the regional government, technical support, and the negotiation skills of civil society representatives.^[6] Vizcarra's leadership in the process has been widely recognized as instrumental in managing the conflict and achieving a resolution acceptable to all parties involved.^[7]

He became known as the architect of the “educational miracle” in Moquegua.^[13] According to Andina news agency, Moquegua's socioeconomic levels have taken off noticeably since 2012, when Vizcarra was in his second year as governor.^[14] Gestión lists the governor's negotiation with Anglo American, which was seeking the social license for the Quellaveco mining project, as an outstanding achievement.^[5] El Comercio stated that “[h]e made his small region an example of development".^[13]

Martin Vizcarra's governorship in Moquegua stood out for its emphasis on clear and well-defined objectives and effective communication with the population.^[15] From the outset of his administration, Vizcarra prioritized direct engagement with citizens, stating that his policies were shaped through constant dialogue with those presenting proposals. His administration was characterized by a balanced approach to development, supporting mining, commerce, and energy activities while also committing to the sustainable management of water resources.^[15]

Vizcarra's governance style was frequently praised for its focus on investment and regional development. The publication Semana Económica described him as a "regional president favorable to investment,"^[15] while El Comercio highlighted his approach as exemplary, referring to it as "a style of regional management that should be part of everyone's dream."^[16] His tenure saw improvements in social indicators, particularly in areas such as education and healthcare, while avoiding corruption scandals—a rarity in Peruvian regional governance, as noted by The Washington Post.^[11] Vizcarra's ability to foster economic growth while maintaining transparency and accountability contributed to his reputation as an effective and ethical leader.^[11]

His involvement with Moquegua earned him the opportunity to be chosen by Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, the presidential candidate of the Peruvians for Change party in the 2016 elections, as his running mate.^{[17] [18]} The latter was elected in those elections, and Martín Vizcarra became first vice president. Then, in 2018, Kuczynski resigned from the presidency, and Martín Vizcarra assumed office.

Martin Vizcarra's tenure as governor of Moquegua has been retrospectively viewed as one of the most successful regional administrations in Peru.^[16][6] Employees of the Regional Government of Moquegua noted that his administration emphasized a more technical approach to infrastructure development and basic services. This focus involved strategic planning and the formulation of development plans with a long-term, territorial perspective, contrasting with previous administrations that often pursued public works for political gain.^[6]

Vizcarra's political acumen was described as key to securing increased financial transfers from both the central government and companies.^[16] His administration is credited with major improvements in regional education policies and the successful implementation of key infrastructure projects, including sanitation systems. Historians and academics have highlighted these achievements as fundamental to the lasting impact of his government, which prioritized sustainable development and efficient use of regional resources.^[6]

The mass media in Peru praised Vizcarra's management in Moquegua when he supported industries such as mining and business elites.^[19] However, during his subsequent presidential term, when he was more reluctant to do the same, the media portrayed his management in Moquegua more negatively.^[20]

• Politics of Peru

• Moquegua Region