Major Challenges

Working to reduce poverty in Brazil

Contributing to International Institutional Reform | Shaping the International Development Agenda on social policy | Climate change

Contributing to International Institutional Reform

DFID’s programme in Brazil has evolved beyond aid to partnership with this increasingly important country.

DFID stands ready to support Brazil develop its capacity to provide development co-operation.

DFID worked with Brazil in the run up to the G20 on multi-lateral reform and on building consensus for instruments to assist low income countries

Knowledge within Brazil on Brazil’s global role is not widespread.  Hence in 2009 DFID will support a Rio based Think Tank (CEBRI) to host seminars on Brazil as a global actor, China as a global actor, it will also support topical seminars hosted by CEPAL in Brasilia.  These will target and contribute to building constituencies for the agenda

The International Development Agenda

The DFID-supported International Centre for Technical Cooperation on HIV & AIDS in Brazil now reaches 20 countries.

As a result of a partnership between DFID, GTZ (German Technical Cooperation), UNAIDS and the Government of Brazil, the Centre has strengthened its ability to provide fast-response, high quality support to national AIDS programmes throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

Since 2006 Brazil has provided technical support on HIV/AIDS to 17 countries in LA, Caribbean, Africa and Asia via GoB-UNAIDS International Centre. DFID contributes with £1m towards institutional strengthening.

DFID supports Brazil’s Bolsa Familia (conditional cash transfer) programme supported by DFID is helping the rapid decline in income inequality: during 2001-2008, the incomes of the poorest 10% increased 8 times faster than average incomes. Around 11 million Brazilians were lifted from poverty.

DFID supported Brazil’s Ministry of Social Development in 2007 to help the Ghanaian government design its social protection programme for chronically poor people benefiting from the experience of Brazil’s large cash transfer programme, similar assistance is to be provided to Mozambique, Angola and Kenya in 2009 ,following a very successful Study Tour to Brazil by African countries in 2008.

Climate change

In Brazil, DFID and FCO jointly funded a major Brazilian analysis of the Economics of Climate Change, building on the Stern Review – which will set out the likely costs and impacts of climate change, and outline some opportunities for Brazil to respond and adapt effectively. Drawing on a similar consortium of Brazilian research institutions, DFID also supported a ‘+5’ Low Carbon Country Case Study for Brazil which will set out costed options for taking further steps on a low carbon development path.

Levering both DFID and multilateral substantive funds and expertise, with an emphasis on reducing negative impact of climate change on poor people, DFID is:

• Building the evidence base through a Low Carbon Country Case Study, and through two studies on Economics of Climate Change for (a) Brazil and for (b) the Latin America and Caribbean Region.
• Building research capacity in Brazil as part of DFID global programmes on (a) maintaining ecosystems for poor people and (b) poor people’s adaptation strategies.
• Policy dialogue to encourage uptake and use of evidence in national climate change policy and planning.
• Strengthening Brazil’s Amazon Fund to help tackle deforestation, and encouraging Brazil’s uptake of global climate funds.
• Strengthening the analysis on market opportunities for poor forest communities and incentives for avoided deforestation.
• Supporting sustainable development of biofuels in the region through the Inter-American Development Bank’s SECCI programme.
• Supporting the UK government’s Sustainable Development Dialogue with Brazil.
• Building Brazil’s global role through support for Brazil-Africa partnerships for more resilient and productive agriculture in a changing climate, and by encouraging Brazilian research institutions to support DFID’s proposed global Climate and Development Centre.