Empowering black women for climate resilience in Brazilian urban peripheries

How the IKI-supported ANDUS Project has strengthened the capacities of black female leaders from disadvantaged neighbourhoods to deal with the impacts of climate change.

“Climate activism is not just a fight for survival, it’s a celebration of the strength of black women as protagonists of change,” says Simone da Silva, co-founder of the Coletiva Mulheres da Quebrada, in Belo Horizonte. She lives in Aglomerado da Serra, the second largest group of favelas in Latin America. Her collective focus is on psychosocial support and cultural promotion for women, tackling gender-based violence, menstrual poverty (missing access to hygiene products and health care) and food insecurity. 

Mentorship programme “Black Women for Climate Resilience”

Simone is one of the five women who participated in the Black Women for Climate Resilience mentorship, an initiative by the IKI ANDUS project and the National Secretariat for the Peripheries (part of the Brazilian Ministry of Cities).

These women are leaders from self-organised initiatives from vulnerable communities around Brazil. Like many other women from the peripheries, they are on the front line against the impacts of the climate crisis in their territories. During the mentorship, the leaders learned concepts related to climate change and measures that can be applied to improve their neighbourhoods, receiving technical orientation and learning about experiences.

They visited each other’s territories, participating in community mapping workshops with the local community and discussing possible solutions.
Throughout 2024, the leaders have formed their own network of adaptive capacity to climate change, where they exchange experiences about their territories, share difficulties and support each other. 

“Together, we are capable of transforming not only our territories, but the way Brazil faces climate and social challenges”, said Simone.

Fighting for urban, environmental and social rights

“This experience has allowed me to broaden my horizons,” said Ana Claudia Hilário, leader of Terra Prometida, a vulnerable community in São Paulo. The community does not have access to basic services, such as sanitation, electricity and sewage. It has 2430 residents, of which almost 360 are children. 

Ana Claudia’s resilience gives her the strength to coordinate all the community's activities, fighting for their urban, environmental and social rights.

With the experiences of the mentorship, one of her goals is the conservation of the river as a mains water source in Terra Prometida, by building a community garden.

The mentoring also improved skills relating to political articulation and institutional visibility by arranging political talks with representatives of the Cabinet of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, various ministries and the German embassy.

Outstanding! Award for commitment in the neighbourhood

“I've always worked for my community, but I've never been valued. The work I did was never recognised. But with the mentoring programme, my battle is now being seen”, declared Dayane Monteiro, from João Pessoa. She is the leader of waste pickers from the Aratu community. The group is formed mostly of women, who spend up to 12 hours a day walking around the city’s neighbourhoods collecting solid waste for recycling.

In March 2024, the city of João Pessoa recorded the highest volume of rainfall in the country. Dayane's community suffered major consequences, with several flooding points and water entering houses with little infrastructure. As a result, many residents lost furniture, appliances, food, clothes and were even susceptible to illness and electric shock.

Urban peripheries are the most affected by environmental damage and extreme weather events such as floods and landslides. According to the IPCC report, marginalised urban populations are 15 times more likely to die from extreme weather events caused by climate change. A dangerous scenario for Brazil, where 16.4 million people live in favelas and urban communities.

Aratu had to get back on its feet. Dayane's Collective of Waste Pickers, together with other groups in the area, helped their neighbours. All Dayane’s work has now been recognised: in November 2024, the Aratu Collective of Women Waste Pickers was awarded the 2º Periferia Viva Prize by the Brazilian Ministry of Cities and their community has also received a national project and financing for land regularisation. Dayane’s application was made with the support of the mentorship. 

Conclusion on the mentoring programme

Although the Black Women for Climate Resilience programme lasted only one year, it succeeded in its aim to increase the visibility of these women and to provide more opportunities and increased resilience for their territories. As a result, the women were able to share their experiences at international events, such as meetings of the Group of 20 (G20) and the World Urban Forum 12 (WUF12) in Cairo. 

About IKI´s ANDUS project

The IKI ANDUS project supports federal, state and local stakeholders authorities in implementing strategies for integrated planning and in managing sustainable urban development. For 8 years, it has been perfecting a peer-learning methodology to support local actors.

With the extension of ANDUS in 2023, its new phase allowed this methodology to be improved. The mentorship brought a new perspective, putting the peripheral women at the centre of the urban climate agenda in Brazil.

The topic has been an overarching priority at the IKI since 2015. 

Read more