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.