Mendes at WUF13 spoke about Brazil's approaches to data collection on informal urban settlements

Integrating local community participation and the use of geospatial data can significantly improve the accuracy of statistics and the effectiveness of public policy in informal urban settlements, stated Filipe Mendes, a representative of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, at the event "Transforming Informal Settlements" held within the framework of WUF13 in Baku, Report informs.

According to him, the institute has traditionally used collaborative data collection approaches, actively involving residents in census processes, which helps reduce "blind spots" and improve coverage of hard-to-reach areas.

He noted that community participation is especially important in areas with high levels of informality and complex crime situations, where census takers' access is often restricted, and without the support of residents, conducting surveys becomes impossible.

"In Brazil, the approach to terminology itself has also changed: instead of outdated designations, more neutral terms recognized by the communities are used, such as 'favelas' and 'urban communities,' which contributes to better representation of the population in official statistics," he said.