Vamos Juntos

Vamos Juntos
Name	Vamos Juntos
Type	Non-profit organization
Founded	2014
Headquarters	Lima, Peru
Region served	Latin America
Language	Spanish
Leader title	Executive Director

Vamos Juntos is a civic initiative operating in Peru focused on urban mobility, citizen participation, and public space advocacy. Founded in the mid-2010s, it emerged amid policy debates involving municipal planning, transport infrastructure, and urban design in Latin America. The group engages with municipal authorities, academic institutions, and civic coalitions to promote changes to street use, public transit, and pedestrianization across Peruvian cities.

History

The organization was established during a period of increased attention to sustainable transport and urbanism following events such as the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development and the diffusion of ideas from the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group. Its founders were influenced by movements exemplified by Janette Sadik-Khan's work in New York City, the cycle advocacy of Ciclovía programs in Bogotá, and tactical urbanism experiments associated with Project for Public Spaces and Strong Towns. Early campaigns paralleled municipal reforms occurring in districts of Lima, coordination forums involving the Inter-American Development Bank, and urban research at institutions like the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru and the National University of Engineering (Peru). Over time, Vamos Juntos developed partnerships resembling those between La Ruta Verde groups and transit NGOs such as WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities.

Objectives and Mission

The stated mission centers on improving urban mobility, reclaiming public space, and increasing civic engagement. Objectives align with international frameworks including the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly targets linked with UN-Habitat initiatives. The organization seeks to influence policy debates that intersect with municipal planning departments in Lima Province, regional authorities in Callao, and parliamentary commissions in the Congress of the Republic of Peru that oversee transport and infrastructure. It frames priorities using case studies from cities like Paris, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Bogotá, and Mexico City to advocate modal shifts and traffic-calming measures.

Organization and Leadership

Leadership comprises urban planners, activists, and academics with ties to universities and civic networks. Executives often collaborate with scholars from the Catholic University of Chile, practitioners from Transporte Alternativo initiatives, and consultants linked to firms that have worked for the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank. The governance structure includes a board that at times consults with municipal mayors from districts such as Miraflores, representatives from civil society groups like Movimiento Ciudadano, and advisors formerly active in campaigns associated with figures such as Alan García or Ollanta Humala when municipal policy intersects with national politics.

Programs and Activities

Programs include street audits, pop-up pedestrianizations, bicycle advocacy, and policy research. Activities mirror interventions used by groups linked to NACTO and Transport for London-influenced design guidelines. The organization conducts workshops with community associations resembling Asociación de Municipalidades del Perú affiliates, organizes public forums with participation from think tanks like CIDOB and universities such as University of San Martín de Porres, and publishes policy briefs referencing urbanist scholars like Jan Gehl and Enrique Peñalosa. Demonstration projects have been staged near landmarks comparable to Plaza San Martín and corridors that receive attention from media outlets including El Comercio and La República.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding sources reported include philanthropic grants, project-specific sponsorships, and collaborative contracts. Partners and funders have included international agencies such as the Inter-American Development Bank, philanthropic foundations that support urban initiatives, and municipal governments in districts of Lima. Collaborative research and technical assistance have involved partnerships with organizations similar to WRI, ITDP, and university research centers like the Peruvian Center for Social Studies (CEPES). The organization has also engaged in cross-border exchanges with networks that include activists from Buenos Aires, Santiago, Quito, and Mexico City.

Impact and Reception

Impact assessments point to localized improvements in pedestrian infrastructure, increased cycling modal share in pilot areas, and elevated public debate on street allocation. Journalistic coverage by outlets such as BBC Mundo, The Guardian (Latin America coverage), and regional press has highlighted pilot projects and municipal negotiations. Academic evaluations referencing case studies from Pontifical Catholic University of Peru and regional urban research centers note lessons learned and scalability questions. Positive reception has come from community associations, cycling advocacy groups, and certain municipal administrations; international urbanist networks have cited its pilots as illustrative of grassroots influence on city policy.

Criticism and Controversies

Critiques have focused on tensions between participatory claims and municipal decision-making, disputes over temporary street closures, and conflicts with motorist associations and informal vendors. Some municipal councillors and stakeholders have compared its interventions to contested reforms in São Paulo and Bogotá, generating political controversy discussed in broadcasts by RPP Noticias and editorials in El Comercio. Financial transparency and reliance on external funding have been raised by watchdog organizations and opposition politicians in the Congress of the Republic of Peru, prompting debates about accountability, scalability, and the balance between local priorities and international urban expertise.

Category:Organizations based in Peru Category:Urban planning organizations Category:Non-profit organizations