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Santo
Andre, Brasil: Social Inclusion and Popular Participation
Santo
André, population 625,654, is part of the Sao Paulo Metropolitan
Area, one of the largest mega-cities of the Region. Developed as
a centre for industrial production some 30 years ago, Santo Andre
has been dealing with a large crisis, generated by the crash and
substitution of its original economic model. As a result, during
the last decade, the living conditions for the majority of the population
has decreased and a number of favelas, areas of extreme poverty,
have appeared in the city. The municipality is promoting an Integrated
Programme of Social Inclusion as a strategy to alleviate poverty.
Results
• A tool to monitor urban poverty at the city level was designed
and implemented. The Map of inclusion/exclusion uses all available
indicators, identifies the “best” and “worst” neighbourhoods and
indicates where public investments should concentrate
• Administrative reform: the social inclusion programme became an
“inter secretariats” and “inter-agency” activity under the leadership
of the Mayor. Resources for anti poverty programmes have been optimised
and focused
• Improvement of the life of the 16,000 inhabitants of four favelas
through integration of all innovative and conventional federal,
state and municipal programmes. Improved water supply and sanitation,
drainage and home improvements are among the concrete benefits
• Relationships between citizen organisations and local authorities
were strengthened through the work of the “Nucleus for Peoples Participation”
Follow
up
Recent re-election of local authorities will guarantee the continuity
of the experience. Santo Andre is part of the ABC Region, a group
of similar and neighbour municipalities. Under the “Cities Alliance”
initiative, a study for a City Development Strategy is being executed
there, with support provided by UMP LAC and the UNCHS LAC Regional
Office for Latin America and The Caribbean. This framework will
be ideal for spreading up the experience of Santo Andre towards
the surrounding municipalities.
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