This report examines the impact of climate change on urban settlements and adaptation strategies and practices, and particularly low-income groups’ adaptation in Colombia.
Since 1996, UN-Habitat is based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with its Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean. Since 1996, UN-Habitat’s role has been to support sustainable urban development and right to housing in Brazil, as well as to disseminate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the principles of the New Urban Agenda. For over 20 years, the office in Brazil has been implementing projects promoted and funded by international donors and/or the beneficiaries themselves in a broad range of areas: informal settlements, sustainable energy, mobility, urban planning, open data, climate action, public spaces, urban indicators, urban legislation, youth, resilience, urban services and others.
Impact
Urban numbers
Challenges
Brazil has 87% of its people living in cities, and the country is the tenth most unequal country in the world, presenting a growing rate of poverty (26.5%) and extreme poverty (7.4%). Although poverty rates are globally and regionally higher in rural areas, Brazilian poverty has a predominantly urban face with 72% of the poor living in urban areas and 6.9% of urban population lives at informal settlements* (up to 22.15% in Rio de Janeiro and 54.47% in Belém); if inadequate housing is considered, the indicator will reach 41.4%.
Most of its urban problems are related to unequal distribution of income and the unplanned and rapid urbanization, highly concentrated in the Brazilian coast (urban population is concentrated in only 0.63% of the national territory). Both aspects help to increase rates of housing deficit and violence: housing deficit of approximately 6.5 million houses, although there are approximately 8 million empty houses; 153 violent deaths per day in the last 10 years – violent deaths were responsible for more than 50% of 15-19-year-old deaths. The scenario of extensive inequality and informality hinders the access to services such as sewage, water supply and waste collection, as well as impacting mobility, therefore causing major consequences for the environment and quality of life in the Brazilian cities.
Donors and partners
Most of the projects in Brazil are technical assistance undertaken through partnerships with municipalities and state governments in a diverse range of urban themes. In many of those projects, academia has an important role on providing evidences through specialised research, collecting data and monitoring indicators; while civil society has been essential to guarantee participatory processes and mobilising groups or communities. Throughout the years, strong relationship with the national government and nationwide organizations has also been crucial to raise awareness and support urban and regional development policies and initiatives on a federal level. Partnerships with the private sector has been important to support social responsibility initiatives and disseminate global agenda.
Contact
Alain Grimard
International Senior Human Settlements Officer - SHSO
Rio de Janeiro/Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (Brazil and Southern Cone)
Legacy content
- Total value of UN-Habitat investments (2008-2013): US$ 10,119,166
- Total number of UN-Habitat projects (2008-2013): 8 projects
- Main donors: Fundacao Vale, Prefeitura da Cidade do Rio de Janeiro (PCRJ), Fundacao Euclides da CUNHA (FEC), BASF Social Foundation (Germany), MDG Fund (Spain-UNDP), Brazil, Instituto Pereira Passos, FSADU
- Implementing partners: ILO, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, and UNIFEM, The Special Secretariat of Policies for Women (SPM), the Special Secretariat for Policies to Promote Racial Equality (SEPPIR), Organizations of civil society (OCSs), especially those linked to movements of feminists, and of young and black women, PETROBAS, Federal Fluminense University (UFF) & FEC, Municipalities, Brazilian Government agencies and ministries
General information
Capital: Brasilia Major cities: Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza, Brasilia, Curitiba, Recife, Porto Alegre, Manaus
- Population: 198.7 Million
- GDP: US$2.253 Billion
- GDP growth: 0.9%
- Urban population (annual %): 85%
- Population growth rate (average annual %): 0.9%
- Urban population growth rate (average annual %): 1.2%
- Rural population growth rate (average annual %): -0.9%
Source: World Bank 2012
UN-Habitat projects in Brazil
Analysis of energy consumption & energy efficiency in informal settlements of developing countries
Objective of the project
To establish the level of energy access in informal settlements; make recommendations on appropriate energy services as well us come up with interventions to improve the quality of life in informal settlements within developing countries.
Service sectors covered by the project include: energy access, buildings, academia, policy and legislation, housing finance.
- Duration: 3 October 2013 to 31 December 2016
- Value: EUR 15,000
- Donor: Fondozione Politecnico di Milano, and UN-Habitat,
- Implementing Partners: Fondozione Politecnico di Milano and UN-Habitat
Promoting Urban Low Emission Development Strategies (Urban LEDS)
The Project was initiated to support innovative strategies in addressing the urban dimension of climate change in cities in emerging economies. The objective of the Project was to enhance the transition to low emission urban development. In Brazil it supported two Model Cities, Fortaleza and Recife, as well as six Satellite Cities. The Brazil cities successfully integrating LED methods, design and products into city improvement initiatives that were part of strategy development. Innovative initiatives included the integration of the cities’ water bodies in the city development plans and strategies, green building policies and product development, awareness of the politics and science of climate change, and training to carry out emissions inventories to comply with the new Global Protocol on Community-Scale GHG Emission Inventories. To reduce emissions, the public transport system in Recife was diversified to include river transport, bike lanes, bus corridors and bike sharing stations.
- Duration:March 2012-March 2016
- Value:€ 6.700.000 (Multi-country)
- Donor:European Commision
- Implementing Partners: National government,respective local governments,ICLEIFor further information ,please click here
Inter-Agency Programme for Promotion of Gender and Racial/Ethnic Equality (i) Enhancement of crosscutting themes of gender and race in policies, programmes, & public services considering the gender equality as an important element in human settlements development ; (ii) Capacity building at the sub-national level, to strengthen and integrate actions aimed at promoting gender and racial equality.
- Duration: 3.5 years (Jun 2009 - Dec 2012)
- Value: US$ 170,677
- Donor: MDG Fund (Spain)
- Location: National level
- Implementing partners: ILO, UNDP, UNFPA, UN-HABITAT, UNICEF, and UNIFEM, SPM, SEPPIR, Organizations of civil society (OCSs), especially those linked to movements of feminists, and of young and black women.
Strengthening activities of the Youth and Gender Assemblies To strengthen UN-HABITAT visibility regarding the work done by the Agency related to youth and gender at the WUF5.
- Duration: 1 month (Nov 2010 - Dec 2010)
- Value: US$ 107,000
- Donor: Fundacao Vale
Regional Urban Observatory in the Eastern Fluminense To contribute to sustainable and inclusive development of the area by the COMPERJ enterprise, strengthen the local competences for decision making and implementation of public policies, facilitating poverty reduction, through promotion and capacity development of how to use the MDGs and the principles of the Global Compact in policy development
- Duration: 4 years (Jan 2008 - Dec 2011)
- Value: US$ 329,433
- Donor: Fundacao Euclides da CUNHA (FEC)
- Location: the eleven municipalities of CONLESTE
- Implementing partners: PETROBAS, Federal Fluminense University (UFF) & FEC
Support to Community Development and Youth Entrepreneurship in Vila Brasilandia, Municipality of Sao Paulo, Brazil To support Community Development and Youth Entrepreneurship in Vila Brasilandia, Municipality of Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Duration: 4 years (May 2009 - Jun 2013)
- Value: US$ 234,450
- Donor: BASF Social Foundation (Germany)
- Location: Community of Vila Brasilandia, Sao Paulo
- Implementing partners: (i) the community of Vila Brasilandia, (ii) BASF Social Foundation (BSF), (iii) BASF S.A., in Sao Paulo, Brazil, (iv) the Municipality of Sao Paulo (PCSP), through the Municipal Secretariat for Housing (SMH), (v) the Government of the State of Sao Paulo (GESP), (vi) SEBRAE, Real Bank
Contribution to the UN Joint Programme "Security with Citizenship in Brazilian Communities" Reduction of the violence that affects children,youth, and adolescents in a situation of vulnerability.
- Duration: 3 years (Jul 2010 - Jun 2013)
- Value: US$ 728,148
- Donor: MDG Fund (Spain-UNDP)
- Implementing partners: UNCT Brazil, UNDP, UNODC, UNICEF, UNESCO, ILO,
Social Reintegration of 30 Pacified Favelas - Safer Rio To support the implementation of UPP (Pacifying Police Units) Developing and implementing methodologies for participatory planning and knowledge management.
- Duration: 3 years (Jun 2011 - Jul 2014)
- Value: US$ 7,673,504
- Donor: Brazil, Instituto Pereira Passos, Prefeitura da Cidade do Rio de Janeiro
- Location: Rio de Janeiro (30 identified slum areas)
- Implementing partners: Instituto Pereira Passos, Rio de Janeiro municipality
Monitoring the MDGs at the municipal level in the states of Rio de Janeiro and Maranhao and strengthening local capacities on public policies To contribute to local sustainable development in the municipalities identified, where large-scale petrochemical industrial activities are being built. To monitor the impact of the installation of the petrochemical complex COMPERJ in Itaboraí (State of Rio de Janeiro) and of the refinery Premium I in Bacabeira (State of Maranhão) on the basis of local targets and indicators of the MDGs. To support the implementation of public policies, plans and programs and make possible for Petrobras to monitor the impacts of its industrial activities
- Duration: 1.5 years (Dec 2011 - Jun 2013)
- Value: US$ 584,458
- Donor: Fundacao Euclides da CUNHA (FEC) & FSADU
- Location: 11 municipalities in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Cachoeiras de Macacu, Casimiro de Abreu, Guapimirim, Itaboraí, Magé, Maricá, Niterói, Rio Bonito, São Gonçalo, Silva Jardim and Tanguá. 4 municipalities in the Sate of Maranhão, Brazil: Bacabeira, Rosário, Santa Rita and São Luis
Impact of Economic Development on Urbanization Process in Brazil To document and inform the development of a platform for dialogue (mainly during Rio + 20 and the World Urban Forum) on sustainable and inclusive cities in rapid exonomic growth contexts, generating opportunites and challenges for sustainable urban development.
- Duration: 2.5 years (May 2012 - Dec 2014)
- Value: US$ 291,496
- Donor: Brazil
- Implementing partners: Brazilian Ministry of Cities & Ministry of Environment, ABC Brazilian Agency for Cooperation/ Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Mexico
Overview
The office in Mexico works on the generation of evidence (CPI) for the execution of strategic urban projects with counterparts from the federal, state and municipal government.
Overview
Mexico is a highly urbanized country with nearly 80 percent of its population living in urban areas. Between 1970 and 2000, the surface area of Mexico City grew 1.5 times faster than its population. With high rates of uninhabited housing and the segregated development of housing projects stemming from severe income disparities, Mexico City is faced with massive urban sprawl, as are many other cities in Mexico.
Urban numbers
From 2014 to 2017, of the homes built and financed by the housing institutes, 37.5 per cent are abandoned and are located in large peripheral housing complexes.
It is estimated that families with fewer economic resources would take 120 years to pay an average home without subsidy.
2.2 million houses are located outside of cities (43.6 per cent). Only 8 per cent are in consolidated areas.
Donors
Secretaría de Desarrollo Agrario, Territorial y Urbano
Municipo Gov. of Zapopan
Municipio De Reynosa- Tamaulipas
Municipio De Queretaro Mexico
Municipio De Merida Del Estado
Mexico
Infonavit
IMIP Cajame
Gobierno del Estado de Hidalgo
Estudios para el desarrollo y la Sustentabilidad de las Ciudades S.A. de C.V
Contact
Eduardo Lopez Moreno
Interim Director
UN-Habitat Mexico
Legacy content
- Total value of UN-Habitat investments (2008-2013): US$ 1,735,568
- Total number of UN-Habitat projects (2008-2013): 4 projects
- Main donors: Government of Mexico,municipalities such as Zapopan & Guadalajara, Government of Spain
- Implementing partners: ECLAC, the metropolitan zone of Guadalajara, the municipality of Zapopan, the Miguel Hidalgo "Delegacion"
In Mexico, UN-Habitat promotes sustainable urbanization in a country with 72% of its population living in urban areas, living in 383 cities with more than 15,000 inhabitants. The National Office in Mexico through continuous advocacy achieved to sensitize national policy makers and to include in the National Development Plan 2013-2018 (Plan Nacional de Desarrollo 2013-2018), which is the strategic tool of national policies guideline, prosperity as a main development principle.
General information
In 2013, UN-Habitat accompanied and included the sustainable urbanization approach to the National Urban Development and Housing Consultation Forum, a national strategy that consisted in consulting the 32 states and technical experts in specific topics in order to design the new national policy. Also in 2013, UN-Habitat participated in the National Housing and Urban Development Council, which has democratic participation of civil and social organizations, housing investors, governmental institutions and academic representatives. This council has technical committees that develops technical recommendations on specific issues. The National Housing and Urban Development Council established in 2013 which is the Habitat Committee equivalent (it is mentioned in the Housing National Law), created the Communication and Diffusion Committee to promote the transition to new urban paradigms and the importance of focusing on cities.
UN-Habitat projects in Mexico
Urban poverty reduction in Mexico This project comes as a follow up to the project “Urban Poverty Reduction in Mexico” (F049) which ran from 2004 to 2010. The project complements the efforts of Mexican authorities in keeping a political and administrative environment conducive to the implementation of the Habitat Agenda in the country. It focuses on strengthening UN-Habitat and SEDESOL knowledge, visibility and network in order to develop the portfolio of activities in the country. Main activities include:
- support to the monitoring of urban trends and conditions
- promotion of technical and policy dialogue on sustainable urbanization issues
- awareness-raising activities
- mobilization of Habitat partners
- expansion of the UN-Habitat portfolio
The project is primarily financed by the Federal Government, Ministry of Social Development (SEDESOL), which is in charge of urban development. A major objective of SEDESOL is the reduction of urban poverty. Implementing Partners: The Ministry of Social Development (SEDESOL), the Mexico’s National Commission to Combat Violence Against Women (CONAVIM), the Mexico State, and the Tlalnepantla de Baz municipality. Capacity Building A Training on city densification was carried out in Monterrey, and EGM on City Densification in Zopopan is under preparation. From Isolation to Community Life UN-Habitat and Avina have intiated a transformative process in the Plaza de la Soledad, a square located within the city’s Merced district. The space became known as the Cultural and Community Plaza for Violence Prevention and Civic Learning nd it seeks to turn this urban square into a space for community response and assistance. The project contributed to enhancing the public space by repurposing the square as a place for social interaction, implementing sociocultural strategies that encourage people to make this space their own. Project duration: 2015 - ongoing Value USD: 10,000 Donor: Mojang Implementing partners: Fundación Avina Urban Regeneration in Mexico City UN-Habitat together with a team of four planning studios and the Creative Industries is egaged in concrete urban regeneration projects. The regeneration projects include spatial visualization, public space networks, rules and regulations, financial mechanisms and collaboration with stakeholders to achieve a shared vision for the development of the city. Project duration: 2015 - ongoing Value USD: 100,000 Donor: Creative Industries Fund Implementing partners: Secretary of Urban Development and Housing, UN-Habitat Office in Mexico, Creative Industries Completed project Assessment of the Impacts of Crime on Urban Economic Competitiveness, a pilot case in Zapopan Municipality (just completed). This project aimed at improving local authorities’ capacities to formulate and implement urban strategies for prevention and mitigation of urban crime in a context of economic competitiveness.
Contactos
UN-Habitat National Office in Mexico Paseo de la Reforma 116 Juárez, Cuauhtémoc Ciudad de México, Distrito Federal +555 53285000 ext 50847 and 50846
Images
Image
Ciudad de México © Shutterstock
Latin America and the Caribbean is the most urbanised region in the world with 80 per cent of its population living in towns and cities. Today, the cities of Latin America and the Caribbean are at a crossroads: after decades in which central and local governments seemed unable to manage this rapid urbanisation, they now have the potential to achieve sustainable urban development in the years and decades to come.
