Favela at the Center for Solutions: 2024 Retrospective of the Sustainable Favela Network

2024 was a year of achievements and historic milestones for the Sustainable Favela Network!

We completed the cycle of 10 Favela Climate Memory events and finalized the local presentations of data on water and energy justice in 15 territories. This work culminated in a remarkable moment: the presence of the SFN in Brasília for Energy Justice. During Energy Week, our voices echoed in defense of a fair energy transition, placing favelas at the center of national decisions on sustainability and climate justice.

Another major highlight was the 1st Sustainable Favela Festival: Favela at the Center for Solutions, an unprecedented celebration of the protagonism of favelas. With fairs, workshops, cultural presentations and free activities, the festival showed that favelas produce diverse solutions for a sustainable future.

Furthermore, 2024 featured initiatives such as the series of articles on favela rivers, an audiovisual workshop for the SFN Youth GT, and the systematization of the food sovereignty axis, we were highlighted in the national and international media and connected with several new institutional partners, engaging us in important events, such as the 13th Filmambiente, LivMundi and the launch of the publication Nature-Based Solutions in the Peripheries.

Watch our 2024 retrospective and relive these unique moments that marked this year!

‘Nature-based Solutions in the Favelas’ Presented in Parallel to the G20

On November 14, the Sustainable Favela Network (SFN)*, in partnership with the National Secretariat for the Peripheries (SNP) of Brazil’s Ministry of Cities, hosted the launch event for the publication Nature-based Solutions in Peripheral Areas: Advances in the Regulation of a New Public Policy. With support from GIZ Brasil, the Expanded Monitoring Working Group (GTAA) has been developing this initiative since October 2023. In addition to the Sustainable Favela Network, the project involved the Sustainable Peripheries Institute, the University of Brasília (UNB)’s Peripheries Research and Extension Group, the National Observatory for the Right to Water and Sanitation (ONDAS), the Urban Bioconnection Alliance, SEMASA Santo André, the World Bank Brazil, the Network for Antiracist Adaptation, and independent researcher Erich Wolff.

The launch event was held in parallel with the G20 Social Summit in Rio de Janeiro’s Gamboa neighborhood, at Zona Imaginária—an atelier featuring a permanent exhibition of images portraying the history of Brazil’s first favela, Providência, located nearby. The event aimed to expand the discussion on public policies for climate adaptation in peripheral areas through the Living Peripheries Program and marked an important step towards innovation in urban development using Nature-based Solutions (NbS).

The event brought together practical NbS experiences implemented in favelas by members of the Sustainable Favela Network. These were represented by Alessandra Roque (Agroecological Providência), Luis Cassiano (Green Roof Favela) from Parque Arará, Otávio Alves Barros (Vale Encantado Cooperative), Roberto Fonseca (Horto Natureza), and Alan Brum (Roots in Movement Institute) from Complexo do Alemão. Raissa Monteiro (GIZ Brasil), along with National Secretaries Adalberto Maluf (National Secretariat for Urban Environment and Environmental Quality, Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change) and Guilherme Simões (National Secretariat for the Peripheries, Ministry of Cities), also attended the event. They emphasized the federal government’s commitment to advancing solutions to address the climate crisis in peripheral areas and favelas, which are disproportionately vulnerable to climate impacts.

1st Sustainable Favela Festival ‘Favela Solutions at the Center’ Welcomes 1,100 People to Experience the Socio-Environmental Power of Favelas

One month ago, on Saturday, October 19, following seven years of growing activity, the Sustainable Favela Network (SFN) hosted its first event open to the general public. The 1st Sustainable Favela Festival: Favela Solutions at the Center brought together 1,100 people from across Greater Rio in Lapa, in the heart of downtown Rio de Janeiro. The event featured 100 activities, all free of charge, led by organizers from over 90 favelas, including artistic interventions, hands-on workshops for adults and children, discussion circles, film screenings, exhibitions, stalls, a fair, and both individual and group healing practices.

The Sustainable Favela Network (SFN) was established in 2017 and has since been expanding its activities in favelas across Greater Rio. Today, it is comprised of 700 members, including community organizers from over 300 favelas and technical allies. The SFN works to implement climate justice by amplifying the potential of favelas as models of sustainable communities.

Held at Fundição Progresso, the 1st Sustainable Favela Festival (SFF) was organized by these favela collectives and allies as a grand meet-up to foster exchanges of socio-environmental solutions between members of the SFN and the general public. The festival featured diverse cultural presentations, hands-on workshops, discussion circles, exhibitions, stalls, a fair, and group healing therapies. Explore the extensive program that unfolded during a full day of activities.

This program reflects work taking place today to build on the ancestral knowledge and technologies emerging from favelas, enabling a rich exchange of experiences during the festival. Over the course of the day, traditionally marginalized communities took center stage, literally and symbolically occupying the city center, presenting solutions, as spaces that devise and implement infrastructure, generate technology, promote research, and advocate for climate justice, socio-environmental education, participatory policymaking, culture and local memory, food sovereignty, collective health, solidarity economy, basic sanitation, energy justice, just transport, and sustainable housing.

The Sustainable Favela Network’s ‘Savory Wisdom’ Roundtable on Favela Food Sovereignty Concludes Rio’s 13th Environmental Film Festival

On August 30, at Arena Dicró in Penha, in Rio de Janeiro’s North Zone, the Sustainable Favela Network’s “Savory Wisdom” roundtable took place, featuring eight community organizers from Greater Rio favelas, all part of the SFN*. The event highlighted experiences spanning the entire food cycle, from planting to consumption, with a focus on food security and food sovereignty in favelas. The panel was part of the closing of Rio de Janeiro’s 13th International Environmental Film Festival (Filmambiente), held since 2011, and showcasing the best of global cinema with a focus on sustainability.

Participating community organizers from the North Zone included: Luis Cassiano from Green Roof Favela in Parque Arará; Valdirene Militão from the Ricardo Barriga Project in the Roquete Pinto favela, in Complexo da Maré, and Fiocruz’s Mata Atlântica program; Claudia Queiroga from Gastromotiva in Engenho da Rainha; and Patrícia Ramalho from Redes da Maré‘s Health Axis and Maré Flavors project. The Central and South Zones were represented by Silvania da Silva from Salgueiro’s Herb Growers’ collective, and Evânia de Paula from Vidigal with her Design and Living Well project. Also present were Anna Paula Salles, founder of A.M.I.G.A.S., a women’s association from the favela of Engenho, in the municipality of Itaguaí, and Aparecida Passos from the Hands to Work Institute, in the municipality of Mesquita, both part of Greater Rio’s Baixada Fluminense region.

Rio Favela Leaders Go to Brasília to Advocate for Clean and Just Energy

From May 26-29, 2024, a delegation of 19 community organizers representing favelas across Rio de Janeiro with 1.2 million residents brought their demanda for clean and just energy to federal policymakers in the Brazilian capital of Brasília.

They were three intense days filled with powerful and productive dialogues about energy access, quality, and efficiency in favelas. With a focus on energy justice, the Sustainable Favela Network delegation ‘Heading to Brasília for Energy Justice’ participated in numerous meetings, discussions, and provided comment during the ‘Just Energy Transition: The Social Role of Solar Energy’ hearing organized by Congressman Bandeira de Mello, who leads the Federal Commission on Mines and Energy. This public hearing, held on World Energy Day (May 29), sparked a broad dialogue about social solar energy.

The delegation’s participation was fueled by data collected by the SFN over several years, including the Energy Efficiency in Favelas report, and also based on grassroots initiatives solving energy challenges. They were able to engage in dialogue with policymakers and relevant stakeholders in the energy sector.

During its time in Brasília, the delegation pushed three key themes that members had prioritized collectively as the group prepared their federal advocacy strategy:

• The renewal of electricity concessions;

• Expanding the social tariff;

• Social solar energy.

Together with national partners Arayara, ClimaInfo, Inesc, Instituto Clima e Sociedade (ICS), Instituto Pólis, Lemon Energy, and Revolusolar, the group of Rio de Janeiro favela organizers realized dialogues with relevant bodies across the federal public sector.

The Sustainable Favela Network presented the results of the ‘Energy Efficiency in Favelas’ study to the National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL) on May 27 in Brasília. Photo: Patricia Schneidewind

This World Water Week, Discover Insights from Four Favelas Facing Growing Water and Electricity Challenges, at the Final Launch of the ‘Water and Energy Justice in Favelas’ Report

March 18, 2024—Last month, communities affiliated with the Sustainable Favela Network (SFN)* and the Favelas Unified Dashboard (PUF)* held the final local data launch from the report “Water and Energy Justice in the Favelas: Community Researchers Gather Data Revealing Inequalities and Calling for Action” at Galeria Providência.

Participants of the final data launch event of the Water and Energy Justice report in Rio de Janeiro favelas. Photo: Bárbara Dias

Data on Water and Electricity in Four Favelas, Launched at Final Event of its Kind

The local data launches of the report “Water and Energy Justice in the Favelas: Community Researchers Gather Data Revealing Inequalities and Calling for Action” held throughout 2023-2024 in the 15 communities that were surveyed by the Sustainable Favela Network, go against the grain of what typically happens once data are collected. Instead of focusing immediately on presenting the research to government officials and decision-makers, or storing it in libraries and archives, the focus was on returning to the communities surveyed, debating the results, enhancing knowledge, and strengthening access to information for the local population, so that together residents can come together, informed, to advocate for their rights.

The launches were moments of intense exchange between young researchers, community leaders, and residents, with the final event on February 24 launching local data to residents of Providência, PPG, Macacos, and Pedreira favelas, with several other communities also present. In their communities, young researchers identified the challenges faced by residents regarding water and electricity provision by private utilities Águas do Rio (water) and Light (electricity), revealing an alarming lack of quality access to these services. Testimonials at the launch event made it clear that there has been a deterioration in services rendered since the research was conducted in 2022, with particular emphasis on water access and quality.  

Twelve of the 30 youth that carried out research for the report “Water and Energy Justice in the Favelas” of Greater Rio. Photo: Bárbara Dias

Research By and For the Favelas

When government neglects its responsibility to conduct research that is needed to inform the provision of basic services, who is left to do the work? In yet another domain, it is the “by us for us” approach that offers the only way out for favela residents. It is up to residents themselves to self-organize and generate their own research. This is how the report “Water and Energy Justice in the Favelas” came about.

“Historically, we fought with the resources we had, but I think that being able to fight in this manner [with data] gives us a different advantage. Having information and data about the place where we live adds a factor of dignity and respect that puts us in a different light [when fighting for rights].” – Hugo Oliveira, Galeria Providência

The data from the report, in general, reveal that water is more scarce in Rio’s favelas than previously understood, relying on pumps and water tanks to ensure access. The data on electricity is equally concerning in the context of climate change, especially when accessing water requires electricity. Among other issues, many residents are not served by Light, the electric utility, and when they are, cases of abusive billing are frequently reported, along with blackouts, power surges, equipment damage, and days-long power outages.

The report provides insights into water and energy justice in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. Photo: Bárbara Dias

When Memories Collide: ‘Favela Climate Memory’ Exhibition Launched by Rio de Janeiro’s Sustainable Favela Network [VIDEO]

The Vila Autódromo favela used to occupy a much larger area on the edge of the Jacarepaguá Lagoon and Rio’s former racetrack. With a history marked by housing rights battles and resistance, Vila Autódromo is now home to the Evictions Museum—a community museum founded in 2016 following the forced eviction of hundreds of families in the period leading up to the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics. Today, only a few houses and the São José Operário church remain. The Evictions Museum was founded there in 2016 with the mission of keeping alive the memory of communities threatened with eviction.

It is thus not by chance that the Evictions Museum was selected as the location to launch the Favela Climate Memory exhibition. The launch event featured a variety of activities encouraging reflection, discussion, and celebration of favela resistance experiences. On arrival, visitors could view five banners with a brief summary of the climate memory circles carried out by five favela museums.

Connecting the Sustainable Favela Network

In 2021, the Sustainable Favela Network (SFN) held activities once again through online channels. Beyond internal meetings, we realized public online events to share knowledge and present network members' projects. These public events are summarized in the video "Connecting the Sustainable Favela Network."

Read all about the separate events in our English coverage of each here:

1st International Exchange of the Sustainable Favela Network: https://catcomm.org/sfn-exchange-2021/

International Museum Day, ‘A Guide to Our Experiences,’ Looked at Pandemic Impact on Favela Memory: https://rioonwatch.org/?p=67481

Event Debates Community Control Over Water, Sanitation and Privatization in Rio’s Favelas: https://rioonwatch.org/?p=66798

One Year of the Covid-19 in Favelas Unified Dashboard: ‘By Us, For Us’ as a Defining Methodology: https://rioonwatch.org/?p=66885

Strengthening the Sustainable Favela Network (compilation of activities 2020)

07 de novembro de 2021

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Sustainable Favela Network's 2020 activities took place virtually. Starting in March, the Network's seven working groups met online. Over the course of the year, these groups realized numerous public online teach-ins with the objective of sharing knowledge and presenting the Network's community members, strengthening ourselves collectively in the face of the pandemic. Beyond reflecting on the crisis, these meetings served to value even further the solutions created by favela collectives.

Check out all the year's lives at http://tv.favelasustentavel.org.