Tag Archive for: Poverty In Brazil

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How Film Fights Poverty in Brazil

Poverty in BrazilBrazil has made significant progress in reducing poverty over the last four decades. In 1983, the country had an all-time high poverty rate, with 37.73% of the population living on less than $3.00 per day. By 2024, that figure had fallen to just 3.01%.

Economic Inequality and the Power of Film

Despite this drastic reduction in poverty, Brazil continues to struggle with one of the most severe wealth and income gaps globally. For example, the nation’s six richest men hold a combined wealth equal to that of the poorest 50% of the population. While traditional economic strategies like direct financial aid and trade policy are still essential to addressing this inequality, the power of film is also emerging as a critical tool. For decades, filmmakers have used their creative power to document the emotional realities of poverty in Brazil. They have created a cinematic legacy that directly impacts local economies and highlights necessary social change.

City of God (2002)

Fernando Meirelles’ City of God (2002) brought international attention to the challenges facing residents of Rio de Janeiro’s Cidade de Deus favela. During production, the producers recruited and trained many young people from low-income communities through the theater organization Nós do Morro. This gave many participants their first professional experience in the film industry. Several cast members went on to successful domestic acting careers; a chance at professional acting experience opened doors that had previously been inaccessible due to cycles of poverty in Brazil. Roberta Rodrigues began acting with Nós do Morro at age 16, appearing in City of God when she was 19. Within a year of the film’s release, Rodrigues had been cast in the popular TV Globo telenovela Mulheres Apaixonadas, and has starred in numerous TV shows and movies since then.

Additionally, the film sparked international interest in Rio’s favelas, or informal, impoverished urban settlements. Favela tourism can create economic opportunities for local businesses and allow travelers to learn more about Brazilian culture. However, this kind of tourism has been criticized for being voyeuristic, with the potential to reinforce negative stereotypes about Brazilians. After the release of City of God, community-run tour companies, restaurants, craft markets and local guides all experienced increased business from visitors. When managed responsibly, this tourism generated income for residents and supported small businesses.

Favela Rising (2005)

This documentary follows community leader Anderson Sá and the AfroReggae organization in Rio’s Vigário Geral favela. In the wake of the 1993 Vigário Geral police massacre, José Junior, one of the founders, pioneered AfroReggae to transform local youth into community leaders.

AfroReggae uses music, dance, theater and vocational training to steer young people away from gangs and toward education and employment opportunities. While this organization already worked to fight poverty in Brazil, the documentary brought international acclaim, attracting new supporters and expanding its reach to other countries, including Colombia and the U.K.

The documentary was recognized at the Tribeca Film Festival, among many other prestigious institutions, and won more than 30 international awards. Due to the documentary’s success, AfroReggae collaborated with well-known artists and public figures, including musicians and actors who contributed to fundraising efforts and awareness campaigns. By connecting audiences around the world with the realities of life inside Brazil’s favelas, Favela Rising showed how filmmaking can strengthen grassroots organizations working to break cycles of poverty.

Waste Land (2010)

The Oscar-nominated film Waste Land produced direct economic benefits to Brazilian people. The film follows Brazilian artist Vik Muniz and his collaboration with catadores, waste pickers who collect recyclable materials at Jardim Gramacho, which was once the world’s largest landfill.

International recognition attracted donations and increased recognition surrounding the tangible contributions of catadores to Brazil’s recycling economy. However, the project generated more than just international recognition; the filmmakers donated over $250,000 of the proceeds directly to the Association of Recycling Pickers of Jardim Gramacho, building homes, improving infrastructure and creating training programs. The documentary helped reduce stigma surrounding waste pickers and highlighted the importance of dignified employment for some of Brazil’s most vulnerable populations.

Looking Ahead

Brazilian cinema shows how film can serve as more than just entertainment. The creativity and innovation of these filmmakers sparked the creation of jobs, strengthened community organizations and funded under-recognized populations.

Although films alone cannot eradicate poverty in Brazil, they can inspire partnerships, philanthropy and economic opportunities that produce long-lasting benefits. In Brazil, filmmaking demonstrates how powerful storytelling can change the world.

– Julia Sanders

Julia is based in Fitchburg, WI, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Needpix

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Tackling Superbugs: Nanotechnology in India and Brazil

 

Nanotechnology in India and BrazilAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a real threat to vulnerable groups in developing countries. Low-income groups and populations living below the poverty line are disproportionately affected. Global research published in The Lancet expects AMR to cause 39 million deaths globally between 2025 and 2050.

The economic effects may cause significant losses globally. As the World Bank reported, by 2050 AMR is expected to lower the global gross domestic product (GDP) by around 3.8% annually, with 28 million people potentially slipping into poverty.

In biotechnology, nanotechnology promises new avenues for tackling superbugs in high-risk countries such as Brazil and India. By specifically targeting infections, nanoparticles can bypass resistance. This approach can reduce medication costs for low-income populations, positively affecting economic development.

Health Crisis in India and Brazil

India and Brazil are among the G20 countries with the highest proportion of people living below the extreme poverty line. Antibiotic resistance is disproportionately high among these populations. According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, antibiotic resistance in India has caused 300,000 deaths annually since 1990, placing the country among those with the highest numbers.

In Brazil, approximately 32,000 deaths each year are attributed to antibiotic resistance, the highest rate among Latin American countries. The situation in both countries places enormous strain on their health care systems. Experts believe antibiotic resistance could trigger a serious health crisis, accompanied by rising public costs and a decline in GDP. For Brazil, the World Bank estimated a loss of 4.4% to 5.1%.

Poor hygiene standards, high settlement density, particularly in slums, contaminated water, and a lack of access to adequate medical care and infrastructure put people living in poverty at a higher risk of developing antibiotic resistance than those with higher incomes.

The situation worsens with the misuse of antibiotics. Individuals from low-income groups often take underdosed medications due to financial difficulties. Additionally, they share drugs with family or neighbors, resulting in insufficient doses. This allows stronger bacteria to survive and multiply with more resistance.

Furthermore, regulations in many regions encourage the misuse of antibiotics. Vendors often sell these medications over the counter as substandard or counterfeit products. This market promotes the growth of resistant bacteria and accelerates their spread.

Nanotechnology in India and Brazil

To counter the threat of antibiotic resistance in Brazil and India, cost-effective nanoparticles may provide promising solutions. Materials are used on a very small scale, allowing them to develop unique properties. Nanotechnology is used either as an antibiotic itself or as a carrier for antimicrobial agents to combat infections more effectively.

Nanoparticles, classified into metallic, organic, carbon-based, and hybrid systems, can bypass mechanisms of antibiotic resistance. Their mode of action resembles a Trojan horse: transporting and protecting the antibiotic, they smuggle the active ingredient into the infected cell. Additionally, they can destroy biofilms, slime layers formed by resistant bacteria, penetrating the pathogen and damaging its proteins, enzymes and DNA.

Although India and Brazil lead in nanoparticle research, they face challenges in implementing nanotechnology to tackle superbugs in their health care systems. Besides concerns about environmental and biological risks, which require further research, developing countries face financial hurdles. Insufficient production capacity, supply chain difficulties and regulatory barriers hinder the fight against antibiotic resistance, trapping people below the poverty line in a cycle of illness and financial hardship.

Research and Development of Nanotechnology

Nonprofit organizations such as the India AMR Innovation Hub (IAIH) aim to tackle superbugs by providing financial support to biotech startups and fostering scientific collaboration. For example, the startup Module Innovations developed an ultra-fast diagnostic method using “Size Dependent Signal Amplification of Nanoparticles” (SDSAN). This method can detect urinary tract infections within 15 minutes. Over the next five years, the India AMR Innovation Hub plans to move 10 to 15 biotechnology projects, including nanotechnology initiatives, from the laboratory stage to the development phase.

The Brazilian National Nanotechnology Laboratory (LNNano) provides facilities and technical and scientific support for research into the effects of nanomaterials on biological systems and the environment. The development of nano-based drug delivery systems and nanoparticles with modified surfaces makes the fight against drug-resistant bacteria 10 times more effective.

Looking Ahead

To reduce the negative global impacts of antibiotic resistance in heavily affected countries such as India and Brazil, international development aid and policy initiatives are crucial for improving the health of people living in extreme poverty. By promoting the development of appropriate infrastructure for production and distribution and supporting governments in establishing regulatory frameworks, nanotechnologies in India’s and Brazil’s health care systems could create millions of jobs worldwide and boost global GDP. Moreover, millions of lives can be saved.

– Oliwia Kowalak

Oliwia is based in Berlin, Germany and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Brazil’s Legislative Strategy for Informal Workers

 

Brazil's legislative strategy for informal workersHistorically, Latin American economies have left informal laborers and gig economy workers completely outside state regulatory safety nets. This structural gap traps millions of street vendors, domestic cleaners, and ride-hailing drivers in structural vulnerability. In Brazil, where approximately 37.3% of the workforce operates informally—representing over 38 million citizens—the lack of formal protections historically meant that a medical emergency, an economic downturn, or a sudden vehicular breakdown could instantly plunge low-income families into absolute destitution. However, a major legislative turning point is underway in South America. The Brazilian federal government, through the Ministry of Labor and Employment, has systematically advanced groundbreaking labor frameworks designed to formally absorb informal workers into the state’s social architecture. This proactive strategy provides a scalable blueprint for developing nations worldwide, proving that targeted poverty reduction can effectively align with modern technological growth.

Aligning With Global Progress and the ILO Treaty

Brazil’s transformative domestic policy is moving forward alongside historic international milestones. In June 2026, the United Nations’ International Labour Organization officially adopted its landmark global treaty on platform work, known as the Decent Work in the Platform Economy Convention (Convention No. 193). This groundbreaking treaty represents the first time the global community has established a binding international standard to guarantee fundamental rights, algorithmic transparency, and social safety nets for those earning their livelihood via digital platforms. The convention still requires individual member states to ratify it before it becomes legally binding in those countries.

By positioning its domestic laws to align with the June 2026 ILO treaty, Brazil has demonstrated notable leadership on this issue. The synchronization between international guidelines and Brazil’s legislative strategy for informal workers has accelerated the implementation of vital safety nets across the country. Rather than viewing technological innovation as a legal loophole to bypass labor protections, Brazil’s current approach utilizes these modern business models to systematically lift citizens out of precarious financial situations. The shared momentum between Geneva and Brasília ensures that millions of ride-share drivers and couriers now operate under a recognized, legally protected framework that guarantees algorithmic transparency, a predictable baseline income, and clear avenues for legal recourse against unfair platform account deactivations.

The Dual Strategy

At the heart of Brazil’s legislative strategy for informal workers is a sophisticated, dual-pronged strategy that directly addresses the root causes of systemic financial insecurity. The first component focuses on legal enforcement and immediate economic stability. The federal framework introduces a mandatory minimum hourly wage specifically calculated for app-based workers, ensuring that corporate algorithms cannot drive base payouts below a livable standard. Simultaneously, the legislation establishes strict working-hour caps. These caps actively prevent individuals from enduring the extreme exhaustion and hazardous conditions that previously characterized unregulated gig labor, directly fostering a healthier, safer, and more sustainable working environment.

The second component of the strategy secures long-term structural mobility by integrating these newly recognized workers into the official state public pension and maternity benefit systems. Historically, an informal courier or driver had no access to retirement security or paid parental leave. The new system remedies this through an innovative, shared social security contribution model. Under this architecture, digital tech giants are legally mandated to co-contribute to the state social security fund alongside the workers, meaning that companies pay a fixed percentage of the labor costs directly into the social security system to match the individual worker’s inputs.

This model effectively shifts the sole burden of risk away from the individual and shares it with multinational digital platforms. These policy adjustments deliver clear, measurable safety nets for vulnerable households:

  • Guaranteed Retirement: Platform workers accumulate verifiable years of service toward a state pension.
  • Maternity Protection: Female gig workers and domestic cleaners access full maternity benefits, protecting maternal and infant health without risking a total loss of household income.
  • Injury Buffers: Universal coverage provides automated disability and workplace injury buffers, preventing temporary health crises from turning into long-term economic disasters.

The CNPJ Surge and the Decline of Informality

The positive impacts of Brazil’s legislative strategy for informal workers extend far beyond the digital gig economy. Simultaneously, a national surge in registrations within the Cadastro Nacional da Pessoa Jurídica (CNPJ), Brazil’s official National Registry of Legal Entities, has transformed the country’s broader macroeconomic landscape. By simplifying the registration process and offering clear fiscal incentives, the government has encouraged millions of micro-entrepreneurs, independent traders, and traditional street vendors to formalize their small businesses.

According to data released by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) in 2026, this national wave of formalization has driven the country’s informality rate down to 37.3%, the lowest level recorded in over five years. At the same time, IBGE tracked a historic rise in the usual real monthly earnings of Brazilian workers, reaching an average of 3,652 Brazilian reais (BRL), which represents a 5.4% increase in an annual comparison. Transitioning into the CNPJ registry opens up a vast array of previously inaccessible economic opportunities for independent workers. Registered individuals can now open official business bank accounts, secure low-interest public credit lines through state-backed banks to expand their operations, and issue legal tax invoices.

This shift meaningfully changes the socioeconomic outlook for millions of citizens. By replacing structural vulnerability with institutional legitimacy, the registry acts as an engine for upward financial mobility. It transforms survival-based informal labor into thriving, more protected micro-enterprises.

A Sustainable Blueprint for Global Poverty Reduction

The measurable success of Brazil’s legislative overhaul provides an encouraging template for the global development community. For decades, international organizations combating extreme poverty struggled with the reality that informal economies in developing nations represent a massive, unprotected block of human labor. Brazil’s current trajectory suggests that modern states do not need to choose between technological advancement and human rights; instead, regulatory frameworks can evolve alongside digital platforms.

By successfully absorbing vulnerable populations into the formal state architecture, Brazil is effectively building a stronger defense against sudden poverty. The positive outcomes visible across the country—ranging from stabilized weekly household incomes to comprehensive social protection access for over 38 million citizens—illustrate that targeted legislative action yields significant systemic benefits. As other emerging markets look to address the expanding gig economy, Brazil’s legislative strategy for informal workers stands out as a notable example of progressive, balanced socioeconomic policy.

– Ioana Marin

Ioana is based in Bucharest, Romania and focuses on Business and Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Breaking the Cycle of Childhood Poverty in Brazil

Young Brazilian child smiling, representing childhood poverty in Brazil and resilience.Childhood poverty in Brazil continues to affect access to education, nutrition and long-term economic opportunity. The World Bank estimates that 32 million Brazilians lived below the poverty line in 2022, including millions of children. Understanding childhood poverty in Brazil is essential to addressing inequality and improving future outcomes.

Growing Up in Poverty in Ipatinga

The Borgen Project spoke with Neuza Knight, who grew up in poverty in Ipatinga, Brazil, to learn how childhood conditions shaped her life and opportunities. Knight grew up in Ipatinga, a city in southeastern Brazil that developed around the Usiminas steel company. She recalled a childhood marked by hardship and a lack of social support. “My mother was alone and had no help from the government. No city program and no social program,” Knight told The Borgen Project in an interview.

Her childhood took place during Brazil’s military dictatorship, which lasted from 1964 to 1985. Although the period saw economic growth, low-income families often did not benefit from it. Political repression also created fear among workers and families. “All families were worried about our fathers because when they went to work some of them did not come back,” Knight said.

Education presented significant challenges for Knight. She recalled attending school without basic supplies and relying on classmates for help. “I never had any money to buy books so my friend loaned me theirs because my mother could not afford it,” Knight said.

According to UNICEF Brazil, children from low-income families continue to face barriers to quality education, including limited access to learning materials, technology and transportation.

Food insecurity was another reality of Knight’s childhood. “Sometimes when there was not enough food she would give the food to us and stay hungry,” Knight said. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), more than 21 million Brazilians experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2023. Knight said the effects of childhood poverty extended into adulthood. “If I had help in my younger age, my mother and siblings would have a better life. I would not have to leave my country and let everything behind,” she said.

Research from the World Bank shows that childhood poverty can affect educational attainment, employment opportunities and long-term economic mobility.

Social Programs Helping Families Today

While Knight grew up without government assistance, many Brazilian families today benefit from programs designed to reduce poverty and improve children’s well-being.

Bolsa Família is one of Brazil’s most significant social protection programs. The program has reduced extreme poverty by up to 15%, increased school attendance by 4% to 7%, and lowered child mortality rates in participating communities.

Community organizations also play an important role in supporting families. ActionAid Brazil works with local communities to improve access to education, food security and housing. One of its initiatives supports Quilombola communities by improving school transportation and distributing learning materials.

Pastoral da Criança supports maternal health, child nutrition and early childhood development. In 2023, the organization assisted more than 1 million children and pregnant women across Brazil.

A Hopeful Path Forward

Knight hopes future generations will not experience the hardships she faced. “I hope that one day everyone is equal. No poverty anywhere in the world, including my country,” she said. Her message to leaders is simple: “Be true with what you promised to the people.”

Evidence shows that targeted investments in education, nutrition, health care and social protection can help children build more stable futures. Knight’s story highlights the importance of solutions that help families break cycles of hardship and create opportunities for the next generation.

– Angela “Phoenix” Garrett

Angela is based in Chicago, IL, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Local Government Provides Juruá River Flood Relief Efforts

Flooded homes along the Juruá River, with residents navigating in small boats.The Amazon River is the largest river in the world by water volume; it accounts for nearly 20% of the river water that feeds into the ocean globally and contains more gallons than the next seven largest rivers combined. It spans roughly 4,000 miles across the Amazon Rainforest and flows through Peru, Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia. Offshoots of the Amazon River and Rainforest extend into neighboring countries of its primary watershed as well.

A River System Under Strain

Because of the Amazon River’s size, it feeds into more than 1,000 offshoots and water-feeding tributaries from its main channel. On April 30, 2026, one of these offshoots, named the Juruá River, flooded to 14.13 meters. This volume exceeded the river’s overflow limit and presented imminent threats to its surrounding communities. The Juruá River is an affluent offshoot of the Amazon River located in Peru and Brazil. This particular flood impacted the Brazilian state of Acre, located in the country’s northwest and bordering Peru directly. More specifically, the April 2026 Juruá River flood devastated large portions of Cruzeiro do Sul, the second-largest city in the state of Acre. This flood impacted an estimated 13 neighborhoods, as well as three rural communities.

The instant devastation caused in the wake of the Juruá River flooding in April 2026 prompted the local government to act swiftly in administering flood relief in Cruzeiro do Sul. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reported that approximately 7,087 families, representing about 28,350 individuals, were affected by the flood. Authorities said 628 families were displaced and 55 remained homeless, with 242 individuals accommodated in six public shelters established by the local government. The mass devastation caused by the April 2026 Juruá River flood changed the lives of tens of thousands in Brazil’s mountainous west on a deeply personal level.

Impact on Tourism and the Local Economy

This flood was particularly devastating because of Cruzeiro do Sul’s relationship with tourism as a main contribution to its economy. As a result, local government disaster relief efforts must address residents’ immediate safety and livelihood needs alongside long-term economic stabilization. The city is the major transportation hub to the Serra do Divisor National Park, sometimes referred to as “the Yellowstone of the Amazon,” a world-renowned destination for ecotourism due to its high levels of biodiversity. The park is difficult to access and sits in a largely untouched portion of the Amazon Wilderness, making it a priority for ecological conservation and a bucket-list item for nature enthusiasts. The April 2026 Juruá River flood brought Cruzeiro do Sul’s ecotourism to a halt; although temporary, this loss to the city’s economy and employment had the potential to be devastating.

Local Juruá River Flood Relief

However, the Municipality of Cruzeiro do Sul has begun relief efforts to address the unfolding situation. The Cruzeiro do Sul State Civil Defense routinely switches to a high-alert cycle during months of heavy rain, which proactively includes April before the recent flood. In April 2026, the city provided disaster relief to flood victims in these key ways:

  • Coordinating evacuations for citizens in areas isolated by the flood.
  • Distributing clean water and fresh food to impacted communities cut off by recurrent flash flooding.
  • Launching humanitarian aid trucks to heavily impacted areas to distribute emergency supplies, laundry services and hot meals to affected families. These mobile services were coordinated by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), a religious humanitarian aid organization, in partnership with the local government of Cruzeiro do Sul.

– Natalie Naylor

Natalie is based in Berkeley, CA, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Tafenoquine Malaria Treatment in Brazil

Malaria Treatment in BrazilAccording to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were an estimated 282 million cases of malaria with 610,000 deaths in 80 countries worldwide in 2024. Malaria remains a life-threatening disease affecting mostly countries with tropical climates. Among low- and middle-income countries, nearly half of households spend more than 40% on health care. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) stated that 1.9 billion people who live in areas with malaria face the threat of being pushed into poverty.

Malaria in Brazil

In Brazil, malaria has a disproportionate impact on the poorest and most vulnerable communities, predominantly concentrated in the Amazon regions. When malaria is contracted, symptoms can be overbearing, affecting the person’s ability to work. As these regions are relatively remote, accessing health care requires time and travel costs, further adding to the economic burden.

Between 2016 and 2022, large-scale deforestation from illegal mining worsened the situation. Miners who come to these regions are potential parasite carriers and may increase transmission. Mining, which involves deforestation and river dredging, also creates breeding grounds for mosquito species that carry malaria. Researchers have described communities in Brazil’s Amazon regions as trapped in a cycle in which deforestation drives poverty, and poverty in turn drives further deforestation.

In 2023, Brazil declared malaria a public health emergency in the Yanomami Indigenous Territory in the Amazon rainforest bordering Venezuela. Nearly every person tested by a team of doctors sent to the region had malaria.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Early diagnosis and treatment are key to successful recovery and reducing disease transmission. Some people have higher risks of developing and experiencing severe symptoms, including infants and children under 5 years of age, pregnant women and individuals with immunocompromised conditions.

Common treatment involves oral medication, though some cases may require injections. Standard therapies include a combination drug regimen based on artemisinin, considered the most effective option against the P. falciparum parasite; chloroquine, used against the P. vivax parasite in regions where it remains effective; and primaquine, often added to prevent relapses caused by the P. vivax and P. ovale parasites.

A Single-Dose Treatment Emerges

The challenge with these treatments is poor patient adherence. They involve multiple stages, and the full treatment course takes 14 days. Many people must travel far and miss work just to access treatment, and when a course goes uncompleted, the risk of relapse and continued spread of malaria increases.

To address this issue, Brazil started a rollout of pediatric tafenoquine, a single-dose treatment that has proven effective against relapsing malaria. Tafenoquine kills P. vivax parasites, which often hide and remain dormant in the body for years before symptoms appear.

P. vivax has the widest geographical reach of any malaria species and predominates across Latin America. While most malaria deaths in Africa are caused by P. falciparum, tafenoquine is a promising treatment and a potential path toward eliminating malaria in regions where P. vivax is dominant.

Thailand recently became the second country to adopt this single-dose treatment, approving pediatric tafenoquine in a step toward its own malaria elimination goals.

Since its first rollout, Brazil has also adopted tafenoquine for adults within its health system. More than 7,000 adults across different municipalities were treated between June 2024 and April 2025, and the country reported a 26.8% drop in malaria cases by the first quarter of 2025.

Global Efforts and Research

Eliminating malaria is a collective effort. In the United Kingdom, reports show that investment in treatment research boosts the country’s economy and creates jobs while saving lives. Brazil is still a long way from its goal of eliminating malaria by 2035, but continuous research, treatment and testing of tafenoquine represent a step closer to that goal, and to strengthening global health security overall.

– Marine Baume

Marine is based in London, UK and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Supporting Poor Families in Brazil: The Criança Feliz Program

Children in festive attire celebrate at a community event in Brazil. Criança Feliz.Low-income families in Brazil face challenges that can affect children long before they enter school. Brazil had an estimated population of 213.4 million people in 2025, according to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). Although Brazil has reduced poverty in recent years, millions of families still live with limited access to food, education, housing, sanitation and other basic needs.

UNICEF reports that about 32 million children are in vulnerable situations. These include lack of education, child labor, living in poor conditions or lack of water and food. IBGE also reported that Brazil’s poverty rate fell to 23.1% in 2024, while extreme poverty fell to 3.5%. These improvements show progress, but the number of people still affected by poverty remains high.

The Criança Feliz Program

The Criança Feliz Program, also known as Primeira Infância no SUAS/Criança Feliz, is one response to early childhood poverty in Brazil. The program uses home visits to support families registered in Cadastro Único, Brazil’s registry for low-income families. During these visits, trained workers guide families on child development, family care and access to public services. The program focuses on pregnant women, young children and children with disabilities in vulnerable families. Its goal is not only to provide information, but also to strengthen family and community bonds. By working directly inside the home, Criança Feliz helps caregivers understand how everyday actions, such as talking, playing, reading and responsive care, can support a child’s development.

Connecting Families to Services

Criança Feliz connects families to Brazil’s broader social protection system. Instead of treating childhood poverty as a single problem, the program links families to services related to social assistance, health care, education, culture, human rights and child protection. This is significant because poor families in Brazil often face multiple challenges simultaneously.

In 2025, Brazil’s Ministry of Development and Social Assistance announced that Criança Feliz would be part of the country’s social protection network through the Social Assistance Reference Centers (CRAS) and the Family Protection and Comprehensive Care Service (PAIF). CRAS centers serve as local entry points to programs and social assistance, while PAIF works directly with families to prevent and respond to vulnerable situations. This change makes the program more accessible for public services.

Impact of the Program

Criança Feliz has reached families on a large scale. According to Brazil’s Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, the program surpassed 57 million home visits in 2021 and brought child care information to families in more than 3,028 municipalities. Another government update reported that the program had accompanied 1.5 million families, including 1.4 million children and 374,000 pregnant women.

The program’s impact should be explained carefully. A randomized study of Criança Feliz in 30 Brazilian municipalities did not find clear improvements in child development outcomes under routine conditions. However, researchers also found implementation problems, including low coverage, management challenges and differences in visit quality. This means the program’s reach is large, but its long-term success depends on stronger implementation and consistent visit quality.

Organizations and Partners Supporting the Program

Although Criança Feliz is a federal program, several organizations and partners have helped strengthen its model. The Bernard van Leer Foundation reported that the program’s home visitors use technical material based on the Care for Child Development method developed by UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). These materials help guide visits around child development and family care.

The program has also involved support from groups such as UNICEF, UNESCO, UNDP, PAHO, WHO and the Bernard van Leer Foundation. These partners have supported technical material, training methods, monitoring and evaluation. Their role shows how partnerships can help public programs improve services for poor families in Brazil.

Why Support in Early Childhood Makes a Difference

Early childhood support matters because poverty can affect children’s development before they enter school. The World Bank states that millions of young children do not reach their full potential because of poor nutrition, limited early stimulation and learning and exposure to poverty and stress. These early disadvantages can affect health, education and future income. For that reason, programs like Criança Feliz focus on the first years of life. Home visits can help caregivers support children’s growth while also connecting families to services they may not know how to access. When early childhood programs work well, they can help reduce the long-term effects of poverty by supporting children before disadvantages become harder to reverse.

Conclusion

Criança Feliz shows how Brazil is trying to support children by supporting families first. The program does not solve poverty alone and research shows that implementation quality still matters. However, its large reach, home-visiting model and connection to Brazil’s social protection system make it an important effort for helping poor families in Brazil. By focusing on early childhood, family support and access to services, Criança Feliz offers a practical way to address poverty before it shapes a child’s future.

– Mateo Alcocer

Mateo is based in West Hills, CA, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Updates on SDG 9 in Brazil

SDG 9 in BrazilRecent updates on SDG 9 in Brazil show how renewable energy projects are improving infrastructure and economic opportunities in underserved communities. Sustainable Development Goal 9 (SDG 9) focuses on building resilient infrastructure, promoting sustainable industrialization and fostering innovation. In Brazil, renewable energy initiatives have expanded access to electricity while supporting regional development, job creation and poverty reduction in underserved communities.

Solar Energy in Rural Communities

In remote parts of the Brazilian Amazon, many communities still rely on expensive diesel generators and unreliable electricity systems. According to the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, nearly 1 million Brazilians live without electricity, with more than 95% located in the Amazon. An additional 2 million people rely on polluting and unreliable diesel fuel for energy access. Limited electricity access may also restrict economic opportunities, food preservation and access to education, contributing to long-term poverty in isolated communities. According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), the highest proportions of people living below the poverty line in 2023 were concentrated in the North and Northeast regions of Brazil, where access to infrastructure and public services is often more limited.

Recent updates on SDG 9 in Brazil include renewable energy initiatives aimed at expanding electricity access in underserved regions. In 2026, the Global Energy Alliance reported that students in Nossa Senhora do Livramento, also known as Uixi, received solar panels that replaced unstable diesel-generated electricity. The project improved electricity access for the local school while reducing dependence on diesel fuel.

Renewable energy infrastructure can also support poverty reduction by strengthening local economic activity. Families in Uixi rely on fishing, açaí harvesting and Brazil nut production for income. The Global Energy Alliance is working with Brazil’s government in a five-year partnership to bring renewable energy, green jobs and economic opportunity to remote Amazon communities.

Wind Energy and Economic Development

Wind energy projects have also supported development in northeastern Brazil. The region concentrates almost 90% of the country’s wind capacity, according to Brazil’s Energy Research Office. Renewable energy expansion has made northeastern Brazil an important area for infrastructure investment and economic development.

In 2023, Brazil’s minister of mines and energy said transmission investments could unlock between R$180 billion and R$200 billion in wind and solar energy projects in northeastern Brazil. The transmission auction aimed to expand infrastructure needed to move renewable electricity from the Northeast to other parts of the country. Northeastern Brazil has historically faced higher poverty rates than other regions of the country, making renewable energy investment particularly significant for local economic development.

Recent updates on SDG 9 in Brazil also include the expansion of large wind energy projects across northeastern states. In Bahia, the Serra do Assuruá wind complex reached full commercial operation in 2025. The project includes 24 wind farms, 188 turbines and 846 MW of installed capacity, according to ENGIE Brasil. During construction, the project generated approximately 3,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Renewable Infrastructure and Future Progress

Despite recent progress, many rural communities in Brazil still face limited access to reliable electricity and infrastructure. Expanding renewable energy systems in isolated regions remains challenging due to geographic barriers and limited transmission networks. However, recent investments in solar and wind energy have already improved electricity access in underserved communities.

Recent updates on SDG 9 in Brazil demonstrate how renewable energy projects can support infrastructure development and poverty reduction. Improved electricity access can strengthen schools, health services and local businesses while creating new economic opportunities in vulnerable regions. Continued investment in renewable infrastructure can help Brazil expand sustainable development while improving living conditions for rural communities.

– Natalia Fleith Gelasko

Natalia is based in Berlin, Germany and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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EDISCA in Brazil

edisca in brazilEDISCA is an example of showcasing how dance can be a supportive outlet for young girls in turning their lives around. Dancing, no matter who does it or where it’s happening, can convey a stronger, deeper message underneath. Dancers don’t always need lights, costumes, or a stage to learn everyday skills that many kids, who don’t dance, don’t get the opportunity to, or tell an important story.

If dance groups are lucky enough, they have the chance to make a difference in the world. In Brazil, using the unique medium of dance as a way to help children create a life for themselves that is safer than the roads on which many young girls fall in Fortaleza.

Background

Escola de Dança e Integração Social para Criança e Adolescente (EDISCA) is a non-governmental group based in Fortaleza, Brazil. Fortaleza faces many challenges with urban poverty, extreme inequality, and a large expanding slum population, and these problems infiltrate the lives of young girls who want to make a life for themselves.

According to the 2025 census data, Fortaleza could have a population of around 2.58-3.24 million. With an estimated 23.1% below the country’s poverty line in 2023-2024. The majority of the children who go to EDISCA cannot read or write, many have health problems, and are close to running away from their violent home lives. EDISCA is important for these young girls to break the habit of global poverty that many children face.

Importance of EDISCA with Poverty

The mission of EDISCA is to promote human development through education, art, and practices that encompass goodness, beauty, and justice. Founded in 1992 by Dora Andrade, EDISCA was made to “provide dance, theater and various other art forms… helps the children understand their and their families’ struggles.”

Andrade first started her dance career in the USA, but quickly changed her pathway when she returned home to teach girls to dance their way out of the slums, along with multiple life skills, critical skills, education, and self-esteem.

Andrade, along with other staff members, teaches the students about health care, nutrition, art, theater, and reading and writing. There is even a psychologist at EDISCA, Madeline Abreu, who talks to the children about the emotional burdens they may carry, according to PassBlue.

EDISCA focuses on children and adolescents who live in the most vulnerable favela communities, offering them an opportunity for an empowering path. The idea is that the girls can become ambassadors of change and take control of their lives by breaking the cycle of poverty and social exclusion. Families and government officials have the opportunity to come and witness the changes being made in EDISCA.

Dance as a Stepping Stone for Change

EDISCA helps outsiders understand that children, specifically from favela communities, can be an important resource for change. Indeed, the performing arts give people the chance to “learn teaching, and teach learning,” SIT study abroad reports. Politicians who come to see some of the work going on at EDISCA see that these underprivileged kids are part of the change, not just the elite

In a country facing extreme poverty, like Brazil, dance serves as an important outlet for young people. For children who go to EDISCA, it is a way to learn basic everyday skills, the chance to turn their life around, and even develop healthy habits, instead of falling down a pathway of prostitution or drug abuse.

EDISCA goes around the world, performing for a wide audience, showcasing the talent that the children have, with the potential to gain more students. It uses dance as a way to push for social justice and build a better future. EDISCA has changed so many lives, and hopes to continue that.

With all the success EDISCA has achieved using dance as a unique medium, it has become a stepping stone for other organizations, including “Dance Out of Poverty” in India, to create their own dance group. The poverty these children face in the favela communities was imposed on them by the higher communities, but EDISCA has flipped the cards by showing them the problems and how EDISCA is making a change.

– Elizabeth Fryer

Elizabeth is based in Philadelphia, PA, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Eradicating Extreme Poverty in Brazil: Brasil Sem Miséria

Brasil Sem MisériaBrazil is a country situated in South America, consisting of 26 states and is home to the official language, Portuguese. With a population of 211,140,729 as of 2023, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), it occupies nearly half of South America. A governmental social program named Brasil Sem Miséria, created in 2011, aims to lift a large proportion of the country suffering from extreme poverty. Some focuses include providing access to social services for individuals and improving rural production for farmers. The scheme has primarily been targeted in the Northeast region of the country.

Poverty in the Northeast of Brazil

The Northeast of Brazil is the largest region in Latin America suffering from rural poverty. According to the World Bank, 5.4 million of the 45 million people living in the Northeast live on around $1 a day. The area suffers from geographical struggles, such as frequent severe droughts and unequal distribution of land, causing individuals to be reluctant to engage in social programs and government assistance.

It comprises nine states, including Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe and Bahia, as well as Fernando de Noronha. According to ScienceDirect, more than 70% of farmers in the Northeast Region are classed as poor or extremely poor. The agricultural sector is a significant income generator for a large number of people in rural areas. Farmers, especially, are reliant on their income from agricultural work, and climate change and prolonged periods of drought have and continue to result in fluctuating markets due to the unpredictability of price, supply and demand.

Brasil Sem Miséria

Brazil Without Extreme Poverty, also known as Brasil Sem Miséria, consists of various social programs to lift Brazil from extreme poverty. Created in 2011 by President Dilma Rousseff, the program was designed to support a large number of individuals. Some targets include:

  • Targeting children
  • Full-time education
  • Access to jobs
  • Rural food production and farmers

Accomplishments So Far

  • Targeting Children. Children must learn the foundations of human development, relating to their health, intellectual mind and physical well-being, especially for those living in poverty. According to World Without Poverty (WWP), Brasil Sem Miséria provided investment worth R$450 million in 2013 to enable children to stay well-fed and motivated as they grow.
  • Full-Time Education. The program consisted of expanding school days through Brasil Sem Miséria to strengthen learning and reduce inequalities. The policy has been adopted by nearly 30,000 schools. The Ministry of Education (MEC) invested and aimed to increase the number of full-time schools in Brazil from 32,000 to 46,000.
  • Access to Jobs. Free courses were available through the Brasil Sem Miséria job program, called the Plan’s Access to Technical Learning and to Jobs National Program. To date, there are 481 choices of profession, oriented to various sectors, including industry, trade, agriculture and cattle farming. More specific courses include computing, electrician, receptionist, etc.
  • Rural Food Production and Farmers. To maintain Brazil’s rich agricultural economy, Brasil Sem Miséria intended to work with rural families to enhance their production rates so the quality, quantity and value of produce increase, contributing to increasing income for family farmers. The Technical Assistance and Rural Extension (Ater) was hired to support 260,000 families, according to World Without Poverty (WWP).

Looking Ahead

Extreme poverty in the Northeast rural region of Brazil remains and continues to impact a large proportion of the population. However, government social programs, like Brasil Sem Miséria, have and will continue to lift various individuals out of poverty. Young children, farmers and rural families have already experienced progress by stabilizing healthier lives for the future.

– Zara Ashraf

Zara is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash