Reducing Poverty and Improving the Environment and Citizen Health in Brazil Favelas (slums) are a primary feature of urban development in Brazil. These informal settlements often occupy environmentally precarious areas such as steep hillsides and riverbanks, and usually lack key infrastructure, in particular sanitation and sewerage systems. This has resulted in increased rates of disease and mortality. Brazil has, however, made significant steps in addressing the problems which beset the favelas. The Municipality of Goiânia’s “Fora de Risco” (Out of Risk) Project was driven by three motivating fac- tors: poverty reduction, environmental improve- ment and citizen health. Most of Goiânia slum settlements are located.
