Tag Archive for: Poverty In Brazil

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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

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Updates on SDG 10 in Brazil

SDG 10 in BrazilBrazil’s hosting of the soccer World Cup and Olympic Games in the mid-2010s symbolized its arrival as a confident middle-class power. Rapid economic growth and large-scale social reform had lifted millions out of poverty and gradually reversed some of the country’s extreme income disparities. But, that progress has stalled over the past decade. This article provides updates on SDG 10 in Brazil, examining the country’s performance against a core UN target – tackling inequality.

Decade of Stagnation

When the Olympics came to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s Gini Index score, which measures income inequality, had been steadily falling for decades — from more than 60 in 1990 to around 52 in 2015 —  prompting experts to celebrate the country as a beacon for social progress.

But its Gini score actually increased in subsequent years, before returning to 52 again in 2023, the most recent year of available data. That’s almost double the SDG 10 goal, of 27.5, and represents a decade of stagnation.

‘World’s Most Socially Regressive Austerity’

The economic crisis that hit in 2014 largely explains that lack of progress, after a slump in prices for Brazilian commodities such as iron ore, a major corruption scandal at the national oil producer and a raft of fiscal and monetary policies that undermined confidence in the government’s ability to manage the country’s finances.

Increased borrowing costs followed, along with legislation freezing social spending for 20 years, which one UN official described as the “most socially regressive austerity package in the world.” Millions slipped back into poverty in the aftermath of the pandemic and there has been a surge in homelessness across major cities.

Highly Regressive Tax System

Brazil’s regressive tax system is another major cause of inequality. Several millions live in poverty, but there is also more than 400,000 millionaires (in U.S. dollar terms), with the richest 1% of Brazilians earning 27% of the nation’s income.

The country’s income concentration is significantly higher than previously thought, according to a recent report by a group of Brazilian and international economists, with ultra-wealthy individuals paying relatively little tax compared to other nations.

Using a new method of calculating wealth, officials from the Brazilian tax agency and researchers from the EU Tax Observatory found those earning at least $1 million per year have far lower effective tax rates (20.6% on average) than the average citizen (42.5%).

Many other countries reverse this pattern, including the U.S., where the effective tax for million-dollar earners is 36%, compared to 29% for the average American.

Brazil’s tax system is therefore highly regressive, as the tax burden for middle-class households is significantly higher than for the very rich, which hampers efforts to reduce inequality.

New Leadership and Legislation Brings Some Relief

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s return to the presidency in 2023, replacing the right-wing Jair Bolsonaro, has provided greater hope and funding support to social programs, including the flagship Bolsa Família program, which offers direct cash transfers to low-income families. Lula’s government has also passed legislation reducing the tax burden on low and middle-income households, with a minimum rate established for higher earners. In particular, the new laws ensured new levies on dividends and company profits that were previously exempt.

Observers debate the extent to which this can be celebrated, however, as some warn the highest earners are able to shield their income due to flaws in the legislation, while the changes are only expected to produce modest improvements to the Gini coefficient, of just 0.3%.

Tathiane Piscitelli, a professor of financial law at the Rio-based think tank, Fundação Getulio Vargas, has acknowledged the limited impact of the changes, but said: “It is an improvement to our system, something that has been needed for a long time… Income tax is supposed to be progressive. We had the opposite situation, where those who earned more paid less. So even if this is not the ideal reform, overall it is a major relief.”

Updates on SDG 10 in Brazil

Ultimately, tax reforms can only go so far, and Brazil will need to find ways to strengthen its economic performance to place itself in a fiscal position to dramatically increase social spending. With the government’s debt levels standing at more than 80% of GDP, up from 58% in 2016, and spending is still severely constrained, Brazil is unlikely to achieve the SDG 10 target in anything but the very long term.

Oxfam estimates it would take more than 75 years to match the income inequality levels of the United Kingdom, at the current rate of progress, which would still fall short of the targeted Gini index score of 27.5.

Reasons for Optimism

There are reasons for optimism, however, with analysts at Boston Consulting Group suggesting Brazil’s economy is “impressively resilient” and well placed to navigate the shift in global power structures. Political neutrality on the world stage helps Brazil continue to enjoy warm relations with most Western countries, while its membership of the BRICS+ group of nations provides a key leadership role among the world’s fastest growing economies.

The huge domestic market and vast natural resources should also help shield Brazil from sharp trade barrier changes, said BCG, while a vast clean energy sector and robust digital infrastructure provide solid foundations for sustainable economic growth. If growth can return and the government can respond with increased social spending and continuing improvements to the tax system, inequalities should again start to fall.

International and Non-Government Support

Brazil’s international connections should also bring foreign and non-governmental investment. Last year, for example, the World Bank agreed to fund a major project to re-introduce the Bolsa Verde Program, which offers cash assistance to rural families that commit to environmental conservation, and should benefit 55,000 families in the Amazon by December 2026. Meanwhile, organizations such as the Lemann Foundation are working to draw attention to Brazil’s challenges within influential academic circles, with major investments to establish research centers within some of the world’s leading universities.

Momentum Can Return

The fight to achieve SDG 10 in Brazil may have stalled after earlier gains, but recent policy reforms and global shifts that should favor its economy suggest momentum can return. If growth strengthens and reforms continue, Brazil should again make significant progress in narrowing its deep inequalities.

– Lawrence Dunhill

Lawrence is based in Bristol, UK and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Unconventional Classrooms: Micro-Libraries in Brazil

Micro-Libraries in BrazilNearly one in 10 residents over age 15 in Brazil’s favelas are illiterate. In communities where access to books, libraries, and formal education resources is limited, children often grow up without the basic tools for learning. To bridge these gaps, grassroots initiatives such as micro-libraries in Brazil are bringing books and learning directly into underserved neighbourhoods. They provide children with opportunities they might otherwise go without.

A 12-Year-Old Girl Sparks Change

In São Paulo, 12-year-old Lua Oliveira created a library in a small, tin-roofed room in her favela. She started after seeing a child at a book fair told she could not afford a book. Lua began collecting donated titles to lend to local children. Her library now holds approximately 18,000 books and operates in a community centre where children regularly visit to read and learn, World Economic Forum Reports. Furthermore, her initiative inspired neighbours and peers to engage with reading in their everyday environment, demonstrating how locally managed, small-scale learning spaces can have a profound impact on education in low-income communities.

The Mala do Livro Project: A Citywide Effort

Lua’s story reflects a broader movement in Brazil. In Brasilia, the Mala do Livro (‘Book Bag’) project has run for decades, with the support of the Secretariat of Culture and Creative Economy. Volunteers carry mobile book bags into neighbourhoods, community centres, hospitals, and subway stations. Each bag contains around 150 books, carefully selected for children, teenagers, and adults, and the network now encompasses 193 micro-libraries with approximately 45,000 books in circulation.

These micro-libraries in Brazil demonstrate the flexibility and community focus of grassroots learning spaces. By situating libraries directly within neighbourhoods, children and adults can borrow books without travelling long distances or relying on formal institutions.

Impact on Communities

Micro-libraries in Brazil affect more than book lending. They strengthen community cohesion, provide safe environments for children after school, and encourage peer-to-peer learning. Indeed, in Brasilia alone, the Mala do Livro project has reached around 100,000 readers over its lifetime, with 18,000 people using the libraries in a single year. Each micro-library receives roughly 45 visits per year, showing the continued engagement and importance of these programs.

Micro-Libraries as a Tool Against Poverty

Poverty in Brazil is not just about income; it also affects access to education and learning opportunities. According to UNICEF, 32 million children live in multidimensional poverty, which includes severe educational deprivation. However, in this context, micro-libraries in Brazil act as practical interventions against poverty. By providing children in favelas with books and access to literacy resources, these grassroots initiatives help break the cycle of educational disadvantage, giving young people tools to improve their long-term social and economic prospects. Education also drives economic mobility: the Inter-American Development Bank estimates that differences in education explain more than 40% of income inequality in Brazil.

Small Libraries, Big Impact

Micro-libraries in Brazil depend heavily on volunteers and consistent donations. Lua’s library, for instance, requires ongoing book donations and active participation from her neighbours. Similarly, the Mala do Livro project relies on a network of volunteers to circulate books and maintain access. Supporting these initiatives helps promote literacy and combat educational inequality in low-income communities, offering children a chance to break cycles of poverty.

From a 12-year-old girl’s home library in Sao Paulo to the mobile book bags, micro-libraries in Brazil demonstrate that classrooms do not need walls to be effective. Community-driven, accessible learning spaces transform education in the favelas, offering hope and opportunity to children who might otherwise be left behind.

– Iona Gethin

Iona Gethin is based in Exeter, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia commons