Peru to Strengthen Access to Identity and Civil Registry Services with IDB Support

WASHINGTON — The Board of Executive Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a $80 million Specific Investment Loan (ESP) to improve access to civil registration and identification services in Peru, a key pillar for inclusion and participation in the economy.

The project aims to reduce the costs and processing times of procedures, strengthen the National Registry of Identification and Civil Status (RENIEC), and consolidate a more efficient, secure, and inclusive digital identity system, with a particular focus on rural and Amazonian territories.

“Improving access to civil registration and identification services is a fundamental step toward reducing gaps and promoting more inclusive development. This operation supports Peru’s efforts to bring these services closer to citizens and to strengthen the conditions that make it possible to exercise rights and access opportunities,” said Matilde Bordón, IDB Country Representative in Peru.

The operation will finance three main components:

• Strengthening the coverage of in-person services, through the modernization and equipping of service centers and registry offices, as well as the expansion of the electronic National Identity Document (DNIe).
• Expanding service delivery to populations in vulnerable situations, through mobile services, mobile equipment, and the training of registrars in rural areas and Indigenous communities.
• Incorporating technologies for service delivery, including the implementation of the Integrated Identification and Civil Registration System (SIIRC), enhancements in cybersecurity, data analytics, digital identity, and institutional change management.

This operation strengthens the State’s capacity to identify its population and expand access to services. A secure and inclusive digital identity system is a bridge to financial inclusion and the reduction of informality, while also improving the efficiency of public spending and trust in institutions.

By 2030, the project is expected to help reduce the average processing time for the DNIe from 9.3 days to 2 days, increase the share of the Peruvian population with a DNIe from 13.9% to 74.9%, and raise the proportion of identification transactions conducted through digital channels from 24.9% to 50%.

The loan will have a 16.5-year amortization period, a 6-year grace period, and an interest rate based on SOFR. It will be complemented by US$20 million in local counterpart funding, bringing total financing to US$100 million.