northeastern brazil

our work in northeastern brazil

In 2008, the Kellogg Foundation invested in a local development strategy to mitigate poverty in the Brazilian Northeast by ways of supporting the leadership, and the articulation of young people and institutions. The program will promote racial equity and social inclusion in the Northeast and will seek to develop sustainability by focusing on assets and leadership from local citizens.

"In a country where nearly half the population is black or brown, we are compelled to take action that lifts up those who are most vulnerable," said Sterling Speirn, the Foundation's president and chief executive officer. "More than 70 percent of all deprived people in Brazil are black. The rate of homicide among blacks is twice that of whites." The Foundation will be somewhat distinctive in its attention to racial equity because very few financial resources are currently directed to this issue.

This work is intended to establish dialogues and agreements with different segments of the society, including non-governmental organizations and social movements, public agencies, policy makers, businesses, and private funders. In order to reach grassroots institutions, most grants will be made through funding mechanisms that are focused on racial equity and social inclusion. The purpose is to find out how these structures work and, ultimately establish a permanent mechanism in Brazil to support actions that focus on racial equity in the Northeast. The Kellogg Foundation is seeking to develop partnerships and leadership in order to further mobilize resources to encourage structures and processes to help sustain work on racial equity and social inclusion.

For more information, contact Mr. Rui Mesquita, program officer for Northeast Brazil at rui.mesquita@wkkf.org.