Brazil and Japan Strengthen Disaster Prevention Cooperation

Strategic Insights -

The Brazilian Ministry of Integration and Regional Development (MIDR) will receive support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to monitor the construction of containment barriers in Teresopolis and Nova Friburgo over the next two years. This cooperation aims to protect populations vulnerable to landslides and is a step forward in Japanese-Brazilian collaboration on climate resilience. Minister Waldez Goes emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation with partner countries, such as Japan, in improving response capacity and building climate resilience.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Ministry of Integration and Regional Development (MIDR) will receive support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to monitor the construction of containment barriers in Teresopolis and Nova Friburgo over the next two years.
  • The cooperation aims to protect populations vulnerable to landslides and is a step forward in Japanese-Brazilian collaboration on climate resilience.
  • The partnership between Brazil and Japan has been ongoing for over a decade in disaster prevention, with a milestone being the Sabo Project - Project to Enhance Technical Capacity in Structural Measures against Gravitational Mass Movements with a Focus on Building Resilient Cities.
  • The Sabo Project refers to barriers designed to retain and control debris flows, allowing only water to pass through, and the acronym comes from the Japanese "sa" for sediment and "bo" for protection.
  • The National Secretariat for Civil Defense and Protection (Sedec) will work in partnership with JICA to systematize learnings and incorporate them into the Brazilian manual for preparing engineering projects for the retention of debris flows.
  • The dissemination of Sabo technology in Brazil is already beginning to expand beyond the Serra Fluminense region, with planned initiatives in Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro.
  • The goal is to apply all the knowledge acquired over the last four years of cooperation with Japan and transfer it to Brazilian experts, consolidating this experience as a national benchmark.

Statistics:

  • Over a decade of cooperation between Brazil and Japan in disaster prevention.
  • 4 years of cooperation with Japan in disaster prevention have resulted in significant advancements.
  • 2026: expected start year for the construction of containment barriers in Teresopolis and Nova Friburgo.

Sources:

  • Brasilia (DF) -- Ministry of Integration and Regional Development (MIDR).
  • Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
  • National Secretariat for Civil Defense and Protection (Sedec).