Abstract

This study assesses the ex post technical efficiency of seventy-one public pressurized irrigation projects implemented in the Junín region, Peru, between 2018 and 2022. A Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model under variable returns to scale (VRS) and output orientation was applied, complemented by a DEA-bootstrap robustness test and a truncated second-stage regression. The results reveal an average technical efficiency of 0.78, indicating a 22 % potential increase in output without expanding inputs. Territorial differences show decreasing returns in oversized projects and higher efficiency among medium-scale systems. Institutional factors—such as the presence of water user organizations, maintenance plans, and post-project technical assistance—display a positive and significant association with corrected efficiency scores. These findings demonstrate that public irrigation efficiency depends not only on technical design but also on governance quality. Incorporating efficiency indicators into the ex- ante evaluation phase of Invierte.pe projects is recommended to enhance sustainability and accountability in public investment management.