Although Brazil has increased the resources to be invested under the Growth Acceleration Program [PAC], they are not sufficient to solve the problem of basic sanitation in the country, according to a study carried out by the Institute of Applied Economic Research (Ipea).

According to Valdemar de Araújo, author of the report every five years more than 5 million houses are built in Brazilian cities and although water and sanitation coverage has increased, the government’s efforts are not sufficient to handle the country’s urban growth levels.

Other problems include long disbursement cycles of up to seven years and the fact that 4,000 small towns of less than 200,000 inhabitants, are being left out.

Web site: Ipea [in Portuguese]

Related news:

• Brazil: environment minister to propose 10-year basic sanitation plan, Source Weekly, 11 Jun 2008 ;
• Brazil: over EUR 4 billion/year needed for basic water and sanitation, survey claims, Source Weekly, 26 May 2008

Source: BNamericas [subscription site], 02 Feb 2009

Tags: financing, latin america & caribbean, urban wash