Video

Team 1- i Video.mp4

Lucy Bowcock - www.linkedin.com/in/lucybowcock

Kate Zdunczyk - www.linkedin.com/in/kate-zdunczyk

Erica Hirota - www.linkedin.com/in/erica-hirota

Zoë Wäger - linkedin.com/in/zoë-wäger-733476298

Summary Section

Problem Summary

After the massive flood that hit Porto Alegre in 2024, over 580,000 people were displaced at the peak, with 423,486 still displaced as of June 10, 2024; more than 18,800 were living in temporary shelters. The Farrapos neighborhood in north Porto Alegre has a high population of favelas that were disproportionately affected by the major floods in 2024, that resulted in entire blocks being submerged and thousands of people displaced from their homes due to insufficient drainage systems in these informal settlements. Residents have family and cultural ties to the areas, they are unwilling to leave their homes, but the areas are at high risk if there is another flood. The essential stakeholders are the Farrapos residents, private sector investors, and Porto Alegre Municipal Government.

Solution Summary

Our plan will boost climate resilience in Farrapos by integrating green infrastructure and upgrading drainage systems, while using participatory budgeting and policy making to ensure community involvement. We will also implement flood warning systems and provide education on emergency response, empowering residents to act quickly during crises. Private sector investors and local businesses will be engaged to design, build, and maintain these systems, benefiting from long-term partnerships with the local government, revenue streams, and tax incentives. This approach creates local jobs, strengthens the neighborhood economy, and enables rapid, adaptable progress that can be replicated citywide, avoiding the delays of large-scale projects.

Practical Humility Clause

This proposal is based on early-stage theoretical work, with no confirmed investors or direct engagement with local stakeholders. Key uncertainties include limited access to up-to-date local data on flood patterns, drainage infrastructure, and community feedback. The technical feasibility of proposed drainage upgrades remains unclear without engineering assessments. We also lack insight into local political conditions, available funding channels, and how infrastructure changes might interact with other urban systems. Assumptions have been made about community support, institutional capacity, and resource availability.

Further Explanation Section

Traditional solutions to prevent flooding in the Farrapos area have failed to successfully prevent flood damage and also failed to help keep its citizens with their families. Previous attempts to relocate residents have failed due to the strong community bond, familial ties within the area and lack of affordable alternatives for the residents elsewhere in the city. Large-scale drainage projects often cover the entire district or city and therefore rarely manifest due to bureaucratic delays and funding challenges. Additionally, private investors are hesitant to invest into high-risk informal settlements without clear incentives and strong government partnerships.

Our solution starts with modernizing the drainage infrastructure to manage extreme weather more effectively. But we go further: