Felipe Mendes: Employment important for transforming informal settlements

Access to employment and income is a key factor in breaking the cycle of social exclusion and ensuring decent living conditions.

Report informs that Felipe Mendes, a representative of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, said this at the "Transforming Informal Settlements" event held as part of WUF13.

He cited as an example a program in Rio de Janeiro that has been implemented for 33 years and aims to transform favelas into full-fledged urban areas with basic infrastructure.

According to him, the program provides informal settlements with paved roads, street lighting, waste collection systems, sewerage and other elements of the urban environment.

"In addition to infrastructure programs, a key element of development is expanding access to employment and income, which directly affects the reduction of poverty and social inequality," he added.