The Brazilian government heard over 4,000 recommendations on what the country’s infrastructure should look like over the next 25 years.
Access to good phone coverage is becoming essential in an increasingly digital world.
Not being able to get online could reduce your opportunities, from jobs and education to social connection and wellbeing support.
It’s why improving telecommunications infrastructure is a priority for Brazilians.
From the world-famous Amazon rainforest to the waterfalls in Tocantins and the vibrant São Paulo, citizens across the country want better access to the internet and phone services.
And because they shared their views, the government is now aiming to make these improvements by expanding coverage across the country, including smaller regional communities.
How did Brazilians get their priorities across?
The Brazilian government believes in including all citizens in decisions that will affect them for the next 25 years.
Over the past year, it ran a public consultation and a series of dialogues and workshops, open to anyone interested in contributing to Brazil’s future.
About 4,000 people participated in the dialogues across Brazil’s states, and over 4,000 recommendations were submitted.
Additionally, almost 1,000 people participated in 30 different workshops.
These brought together experts from relevant infrastructure departments, such as mines and energy, communications, science and technology, and transportation.
Each sector was given time to address infrastructure trends, challenges, and visions for the future.
What were Brazilians’ top priorities?
A common theme that emerged was participants wanting to live in a socially fair and environmentally sustainable country.
The telecommunications sector raised that to overcome internet and phone service access challenges across regional areas, Brazil must keep up with technological advancements.
Meanwhile, the energy sector addressed the need to focus on preventing climate impacts on energy.
Obtaining a better understanding of regional needs
Regional dialogues were also set up, bringing together experts, public managers, and civil society representatives to discuss how local development can be included in Brazil’s long-term strategy.
Attendees were separated by region – north, north-east, mid-west, south-east, and south – to discuss different infrastructure priorities across the country.
The sessions helped to reinforce the need for Brazil’s national strategy to include a focus on adapting infrastructure based on each area’s specific priorities.
For example, for the Amazon region, improving waterway infrastructure and building highways was at the top of the list.
Meanwhile, the Atlantic Forest region put a greater focus on restoring existing infrastructure and using nature-based solutions, such as sustainable drainage systems.
Strengthening Brazil’s long-term strategy
Brazil’s strategy aims to align economic growth with social justice and environmental stability while supporting global goals, such as achieving net zero by 2050.
It plans to do this by:
- Reducing social and regional inequalities
- Addressing climate change
- Preparing Brazil for population changes
- Promoting increased investment and ensuring economic growth
- Promoting long-term economic sustainability
Achieving these objectives requires improving infrastructure in areas such as transportation, telecommunications and energy.
This work is supported by the insights gained at the public consultation.
How did public views influence the plan?
Brazil is already using natural energy resources such as hydroelectricity, but now, it’s aiming to increase funding for energy transition research.
It is also planning to fund government programmes that prioritise developing infrastructure that produces clean and renewable energy.
As mentioned, on the telecomms front, it’s looking to expand coverage and access to services across the country, including previously underserved communities.
Finally, it’s looking to improve and build roads to connect more communities to each other.
What’s next?
Brazil has managed to connect with thousands of stakeholders and collect data to help inform its long-term vision of infrastructure.
This will help create an inclusive strategy that represents Brazil’s current and future needs.
The 2050 strategy is in its final stages of approval and is expected to be published this autumn.
The Enabling Better Infrastructure (EBI) programme
Brazil’s approach to include all parties in the planning of its long-term strategy embodies principle 6 of the EBI guidance.
This principle explains that building consensus among stakeholders can drive the longevity of infrastructure decisions.
Find out more about the EBI programme and its eight guiding principles.
Sustainable Development Goals:
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