The World Bank’s Board of Directors has approved a new project to strengthen social protection and expand opportunities for vulnerable populations in São Paulo, Brazil’s largest city. The initiative aims to improve access to social assistance services, modernize the city’s social protection infrastructure, and strengthen systems that support residents facing social and economic exclusion. It will also help connect vulnerable groups, particularly young people, to skills development and employment opportunities.
The project includes a $131.8 million loan from the World Bank, combined with $100 million in funding from the Municipality of São Paulo, bringing the total investment to $231.8 million. By integrating improvements in service delivery, digital systems, and physical infrastructure, the initiative seeks to enhance the efficiency, reach, and responsiveness of the city’s social assistance network while supporting greater economic participation and resilience.
Approximately 500,000 people currently receiving services from the Municipal Secretariat for Assistance and Social Development are expected to benefit directly from the project. The initiative will also monitor improvements in citizen satisfaction with social assistance services and track progress in the use of digital records across service systems.
A major focus of the project is supporting vulnerable groups, including unhoused individuals and young people at risk. Planned actions include providing housing vouchers and reintegration services for people experiencing homelessness, as well as offering digital skills training and behavioral health support to help at-risk youth access better employment opportunities. The project will also introduce an adaptive social protection approach to help families cope with climate-related shocks.
In addition, the initiative will modernize São Paulo’s social assistance systems by upgrading information technology, expanding electronic records, and improving case management processes. It will also support the renovation and expansion of facilities within the city’s social and health service networks, helping strengthen the operational capacity of services for vulnerable populations, including people with disabilities. The project aims to make São Paulo’s social protection system more effective, inclusive, and resilient while creating stronger pathways to opportunity and economic participation.
