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Amazon Fund
UK - Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
The Amazon Fund is a REDD+ mechanism created to raise donations for non-reimbursable investments in efforts to prevent, monitor and combat deforestation, as well as to promote the preservation and sustainable use in the Brazilian Amazon. The UK committed to funding £115 million total for results-based finance at $5 per tonne and £3.5 million for technical assistance, of which £2 million will be destined for GIZ Action for Forests programme. £1.5 million is for MEL.
Developing innovative arts-based approaches to prevent gender-based violence through feminist activism among youth in the favelas of Brazil
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
"This project develops an innovative translational arts-based approach to prevent GBV in Brazil and creates engagement and policy pathways that can be scaled-up transnationally. Drawing on established successful international collaborations, it will be conducted in the favelas of Maré in Rio de Janeiro with Redes da Maré (Redes) (a community-based human rights NGO), together with People’s Palace Projects (an arts centre using creativity for transformation - PPP) and Women of the World Foundation (a global movement creating a gender equal world – WOW). Through exploring ways to address and prevent GBV in Brazil, one of the main factors undermining sustainable development is addressed illustrating that this project is directly and primarily relevant to the addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Brazil. More specifically, SDG 5 on achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls is at the core of this project. It directly addresses target 5.1 ‘End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere’ and Target 5.2 ‘Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres’. The project also addresses SDG 11 on making cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, especially in relation to the importance of making public spaces safe for everyone (Indicator 11.7.2)
UK-Brazil Eyewitness Memory Network
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
The aim of this project is to launch the UK-Brazil Eyewitness Memory Network, which will be formed by prominent researchers in the field of eyewitness testimony from both countries. Eyewitness testimony is crucial in various criminal justice systems to The aim of this project is to launch the UK-Brazil Eyewitness Memory Network, which will be formed by prominent researchers in the field of eyewitness testimony from both countries. Eyewitness testimony is crucial in various criminal justice systems to establish the facts of a case, identify suspects, and prosecute perpetrators. However, research has consistently shown that eyewitness evidence is susceptible to contamination and error, which can impair investigations and lead to wrongful convictions. This project seeks to address these issues by fostering international collaboration and knowledge exchange between the UK and Brazil, with the goal of advancing research, improving practices, and developing evidence-based policies that can enhance the accuracy and reliability of eyewitness testimony in both countries. The network will also aim to conduct joint studies, workshops, and training sessions, and aims to engage with legal practitioners, law enforcement, and policymakers to ensure that research findings are effectively translated into practice. Ultimately, this initiative will contribute to the overall improvement of the criminal justice systems in the UK and Brazil, reducing the risk of miscarriages of justice and promoting fairer outcomes for all individuals involved in the legal process. The project promises significant legal, social and economic benefits to Brazil through the adaptation of evidence - based investigative interviewing techniques. Legally, the project aims to introduce standardized methods for investigative interviews nationwide, a critical advancement given that Brazil lacks such unified protocols. This approach can facilitate the development on new laws, public policies, and policy regulations, promoting new consistent and reliable approach to investigations. Furthermore, by involving key Brazilian researchers and police instructors, the project will foster the creation of a sustainable network of researchers and practitioners, ensuring the continuity and on-going impact of the project beyond the funding period.
Strengthening health economics and climate change research in Brazil and the UK
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Climate change has a greater impact on the poorest countries and individuals. It adversely affects health, increases healthcare costs, and exacerbates inequalities. Globally, climate change is projected to cause 250,000 additional deaths annually. Brazil is a country highly vulnerable to the consequences of climate change. Climate change events have impacted the spread of diseases, caused large outbreaks of water and vector-borne diseases, and increased hospitalisation costs and deaths. Also, Brazil's status as one of the most unequal countries in Latin America puts the most vulnerable populations, which include black people, Indigenous communities, and residents of environmentally fragile areas such as informal settlements, at greater risk of the adverse effects of climate change. It is estimated that climate shocks could push between 800,000 and 3,000,000 Brazilians into extreme poverty by 2030, costing US$2.6 billion, or 0.1% of the country's GDP annually. Despite the severity of this scenario, there is a lack of evidence on how climate change contributes to increased healthcare costs for families and health systems, exacerbating inequalities in healthcare access, particularly among the most vulnerable populations. Although national datasets on healthcare costs for households and the public health system are freely available, they provide fragmented information, and there has been no effort to integrate different sources of information to develop methodological frameworks targeting the economic impact of climate change on the public health system and families. This proposal aims to strengthen health economics and climate change research in Brazil and the UK by developing a methodological framework that will explore the impact of climate change on health system costs, healthcare expenditures for families and inequalities in healthcare access in Brazil. The objectives of this proposal are to 1) examine the type of data that can be used to establish a national dataset to analyse the economic impact of climate change on the health system, families and patient costs, 2) develop a methodological framework to investigate how climate change has exacerbated healthcare inequalities and increased costs for the public health system and families, 3) engage with national stakeholders to promote and sustain health economics and climate change research in Brazil, 4) engage UK and Brazilian researchers to discuss health economics and climate change research and knowledge exchange. This research will identify population groups most at risk of high health expenditure, which can inform and reshape social protection schemes and targeted public health interventions. Also, it will strengthen health economics and climate change research in Brazil and the UK. These topics are crucial for building health system resilience, investing resources to prepare for climate change, mitigating its economic impact. This proposal is the first initiative designed to understand the economic impact of climate change on the public health sector and vulnerable families in Brazil by providing a methodological framework that can be adapted to other countries. This proposal will pave the way for new grant applications with a methodological framework aiming to determine the full economic impact of climate change in Brazil, as well as the cost-effectiveness and social return on investment of policies to mitigate the impact of climate change. Ultimately, the project will open a window of opportunities in health economics and climate change research that can generate strong evidence and benefit those most affected by these events.
Environmental consumption, production, and voting preferences: corresponding implications for structural transformation in Brazil
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
The role of evolving preferences over consumption goods has long been understood as a determinant of the pattern of structural transformation. However, the role that will be played by consumption preferences over particularly 'green' and 'brown' goods during the required climate transition is less well understood. The climate transition is also a 'structural transformation' problem - an issue of evolving sectoral structure -- and there is scope for extension of traditional analysis from development economics and development studies to the emergent problem of realising a just and developmental transition. Among the important socio-economic and political considerations for key stakeholders to ponder in driving forth climate action are the following issues: 1) that consumption preferences are likely to differ depending on where an individual sits in the income distribution; 2) that there may be conflict within firms over the choice of production technique since this influences the energy-intensity and emissions path of production; and 3) that workers and firm-owners, as well as other actors, influence the political process as voters, independent of their respective roles in consumption and production. In short, there are significant behavioural elements to the climate transition that require better empirical and theoretical understanding. Without understanding this behaviour, strategising a just and developmental transition to a greener economy is impossible. The central objective of this research is correspondingly to strategise how to reconcile structural transformation (raising the share of manufacturing production in total output) with the just transition. Given the historic energy intensity of manufacturing, this will be no mean feat, but it is surely one of the central global challenges for environmental activists, trade unions, policymakers -- and academics to strategise today. To do so, we aim to generate new empirical and theoretical insights into how preferences over consumption, production techniques, and voter behaviour impact the climate transition. Specifically, using the Brazilian context as an initial starting point, our research will help better understand preferences and behaviour in developing countries regarding these three crucial dimensions to the just transition. The research will consist of a survey investigating individual behaviour in each of these three dimensions and heterogeneity in behaviour along these dimensions. The objective of the research is to channel knew knowledge about behaviour of the aforementioned key actors to policy-relevant insights that can inform emboldened climate action for trade unionists, environmental activists, central bankers, treasury officials, and presidencies. This research will primarily benefit the Brazilian economy. Brazil faces substantial multi-dimensional development challenges related to its still limited levels of industrial development, high rates of poverty, and pronounced social and economic inequalities. It is ethnically heterogeneous, faces persistent legacies of institutionalised racial discrimination, has been historically influenced by non-democratic political traditions, and ranks among the most income -unequal economies in the world. Addressing those issues is the central focus of this research.
Ranching, Resources and Resilience: Uncovering the Impact of Land Grabbing in the Amazon
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Over the past few decades, Brazil has been growing a reputation as an "agricultural powerhouse" (Stabile et al. 2020), a global leader in global agricultural production. Yet, this increase in agricultural development has resulted in negative environmental and social outcomes, particularly in forested regions of the country with weak governance in areas of agricultural practice. Brazil has nearly 55 Mha undesignated public forests in the Amazon (Sparovek et al., 2019), yet due to lack of clarity on land legislation, unclaimed territory is often occupied by deregulated cattle ranchers, also known as land grabbers, who are becoming key players in the expansion of pastureland in Amazonia. These activities now constitute one of the main drivers of deforestation (63%), as livestock occupies up to 85% of land cleared (Hecht and Cockburn, 2010). Although the intensification of these practices is the main cause of the spread of deforestation in the Amazon, its impact on and the effects on water access are rarely recognised. Research is increasingly recognising that the environmental degradation linked to cattle ranching extends beyond deforestation, influencing the hydrological cycles in the region. The clearing of forests disrupts the natural water balance, reducing rainfall interception, groundwater recharge, and altering river flows. These changes not only affect local ecosystems but have broader implications for water availability, which is critical for both human consumption and agricultural productivity. The cumulative effect of these processes contributes to a cycle of increasing aridity, which could further exacerbate the challenges faced by communities and ecosystems in the Amazon. Understanding the interconnectivity between land use change, water resources, and socio-political factors forms the basis for developing effective frameworks to create practical, sustainable management strategies in endangered zones of the Amazon rainforest. This project will serve as an initial scoping study to lay the foundations for a larger project bid on cattle ranching, land management and associated water scarcity. The aim of the pilot study, which we classify as an environmental planning social study, is to initiate an innovative, actor-centred, and interdisciplinary investigation into land grabbing within the Chico Mendes Extractive Reserve (CMER) in the state of Acre, Brazil. The project will focus on two specific aspects of this phenomenon: 1) the relationship between land management and water access, and 2) the legal, social, and political mechanisms used to legitimise cattle ranching practices. Both research streams stem from the priorities and concerns of cattle ranchers themselves, identified through previous research in CMER that Dr Sabina Ribeiro has been conducting since 2015. The goal is to build networks among interdisciplinary scholars interested in these themes, in order to create a strong trajectory towards a larger project that will offer new insights into a phenomenon that has often been presented in reductive and homogeneous terms within the existing scholarly literature.
Providing climate justice for marginalised groups in the implementation of the UN Global Plastics Treaty in Brazil
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
The world is waking up to the problem of plastic pollution. The threat it poses to ecosystems and human health is global but not all communities are equally affected or equally culpable, with developed countries producing most waste and developing nations suffering the worst consequences (Xanthos and Walker, 2018; Nielsen, 2021). The challenges of plastic pollution and climate justice are therefore inextricably linked. In March 2022 UNEA, Resolution 5/14 mandated an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) produce a Global Plastics Treaty by the end of 2024, with implementation to begin in 2025. Their negotiations have been characterised by conflict between stakeholder groups with competing interests, from powerful coalitions of plastic-producing nations to representatives of marginalised communities already affected by the plastic crisis. Whatever treaty emerges from this crucible, its success will hinge on the ability of individual nations to turn it into effective, enforceable regulations capable of protecting not just the climate but also climate justice. Brazil, for example, produces much of Latin America's plastic waste and is home to marginalised communities and vital ocean and forest ecosystems already threatened by the rising tide of pollution. Here, as in the treaty negotiations, the governance of plastic is a contested topic, with diverse stakeholders defending disparate interests. THE CHALLENGE Realising the UN treaty's potential to enable Brazil to free its economy, people and globally-significant ecosystems from the menace of plastic pollution is a challenge that must be addressed now, while the opportunity still exists to guide the interpretation and codification of the treaty into national law and governance. AIMS To learn from the conflicts of interests between key stakeholder groups in the negotiation of the UN plastic treaty and use those lessons to help reconcile the needs of multistakeholders working on treaty implementation in Brazil with the goal of ensuring the resultant laws respect the needs of marginalised stakeholder groups and climate justice. To develop and empower early career researchers (ECRs) from the University of Surrey (UoS) and the University of São Paulo (USP), helping them develop collaborative skills and networks for addressing complex environmental challenges, whilst furthering their career goals.
Empowering Green Womenpreneurs
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
This project aims to develop a Circular Economy (CE) model specifically for micro and small beauty sector businesses led by women in Brazil, with benefits that extend to Global South countries. As the initial phase of a larger collaboration, this project will lay the groundwork by establishing essential connections and gathering preliminary data, with the goal of promoting sustainable and environmentally friendly women-led entrepreneurship. The initiative is a partnership between Coventry University in the UK and Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV) University in Brazil. The beauty sector in Brazil, predominantly led by women, produces 120 billion pieces of packaging annually, representing 70% of its total waste. This significant environmental challenge, exacerbated by chemical waste from beauty products, threatens soil, water, climate, and human health. Women are central to this industry, with 285,000 female-led micro-sized businesses in São Paulo alone. They constitute 46.7% of Brazil's 13.2 million micro-entrepreneurs, contributing over £8 billion annually to the economy. To address these challenges, the project will empower female entrepreneurs in Brazil by leveraging UK best practices in CE, focusing on sustainable waste reduction, treatment, and management. As key drivers of economic activity and primary decision-makers in 72% of Brazilian households, women have the potential to influence broader societal behaviors and norms through sustainable practices. Targeting women aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality) by removing barriers to their economic participation and ensuring equal access to resources. This project also supports SDGs for industry innovation (SDG9), sustainable cities (SDG11), responsible consumption (SDG12), climate action (SDG13), and global partnerships (SDG17). Empowering women in this sector addresses gender inequality while driving environmental sustainability and economic growth, with the potential to boost inclusive growth and global GDP.
Place-Based Engagement Strategies with Local Communities for better Climate Resilience Governance in Disaster Situations
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
This project aims to develop place-based and context-specific civic engagement strategies in collaboration with local government officials and relevant civic stakeholders in Caxias do Sul, Brazil. The goal is to help local authorities increase awareness of climate change challenges and engage communities in building resilience against disasters. Recent floods in the area have exposed a significant lack of public awareness regarding climate vulnerability and its consequences. This lack of awareness has heightened the population's vulnerability to future extreme weather events, leaving the region less capable of adapting to extreme weather-related impacts of climate change, such as floods, heavy storms, and heatwaves and their consequences. To address these challenges, the project seeks to empower local authorities to develop better tools and methods for engagement processes that help deliver climate resilience strategies and broaden local voices in policy making. Focusing on Caxias do Sul, the project seeks to foster collaborations between researchers from Brazil and the UK to enable local authorities create innovative and effective approaches for disaster preparedness and response and co-produce climate resilience strategies. This initiative will be delivered through a series of workshops organised in partnership with researchers from the Universidade de Caxias do Sul. The primary objective is to enhance the capacity of local governments in Rio Grande do Sul to engage effectively with communities for improved climate resilience governance in disaster-prone areas. The workshops will foster dialogue between UK and Brazilian researchers and local stakeholders to develop and share best practices and methodologies for community engagement. They will address challenges such as inclusion, communication, and policy integration, emphasising practical implementation and sustainability. By providing a platform for exchanging ideas and strategies, the workshops aim to create adaptable solutions for diverse contexts. As the impacts of climate change affect us more and more, local governments face the pressing challenge of building long term resilience while effectively responding to disasters. Historically, top-down response efforts and mitigation strategies have often failed to meet local needs on the ground. Recently, the focus has been shifting towards policies that leverage local expertise and resources, emphasising the need for civic engagement. Local communities are the first responders to disasters and by involving them in producing, planning and delivering climate resilience knowledge and strategies, local governments can tap into valuable local assets, foster a sense of ownership, and ensure the long-term sustainability of their efforts. Collaborative, place-based approaches not only improve the relevance and effectiveness of climate mitigation and adaptation measures, but also strengthen civic resilience and address broader issues of sustainability. By adopting a context-sensitive and inclusive approach to climate resilience governance, local governments can better address the complexities of climate change adaptation and mitigation, deal better with disaster situations such as the recent floods in the region, and enhance the overall well-being and adaptive capacity of their communities. This project represents a critical step towards building more resilient and sustainable cities in the face of growing climate challenges.
ADAPTA-Mossoró: Collaborative Asset Planning for Urban Climate Change Adaptation in Mossoró, Brazil
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
According to the United Nations, over half of the world's population lives in urban areas, and projections indicate that by 2050, approximately 68% of the global population will be urbanised. Rapid urbanisation is perceived as increasing the vulnerability of urban centres to climate change impacts. It has, for instance, increased climate injustice through the concentration of people in low-lying coastal zones at risk from sea-level rise, severe weather events, and constraints on freshwater. In Brazil, where approximately 85% of the population lives in urban areas (IBGE, 2022), data from the National Confederation of Municipalities [Confederação Nacional de Municípios (CNM)] show that 93% of Brazilian cities were affected by climatic events from 2013 to 2022, and 4.2 million people had to leave their homes in 47% of Brazil's municipalities. Although Brazil is revising and implementing a new climate strategy, concrete actions to address urban climate uncertainties are sparse and limited (Barbi, 2016). This scenario gets even worse in Brazil's semi-arid northeast (SANEB), where climate change has increased the compounding and overlapping vulnerabilities of previously neglected and marginalised communities. Mossoró, SANEB's capital and a mid-sized city with approximately 264,577 residents (IBGE, 2022), is an excellent example of this, as it experiences intense sunlight, high temperatures, and a rainfall pattern characterised by scarcity, irregularity, and concentrated precipitation over three months. . This leads to frequent heatwaves and flash floods, which disproportionately affect the vulnerable population living in precarious housing and low-lying areas. To achieve Sustainable Development Goals (particularly SDG 11), creating inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities is urgently needed to support climate change mitigation and adaptation. Local governments and communities affected assume a central role in climate action planning. However, depending on the tools and strategies implemented, it risks exacerbating already deep social, economic, and political divisions in cities if it is not co-created, co-produced, and co-managed. To avoid climate vulnerabilities being tackled in a fragmented manner by conventional adaptation approaches, there is thus increasing urgency for researchers, planners, and policymakers to adopt participatory and intersectional frames that tackle these climate injustices while simultaneously striving to expand capacity to build transformative, sustainable futures. This proposal builds on emerging findings and collaborations established between Lancaster University (LU) and Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (UERN) during the "Accumulation by segregation and dispossession project" funded by LU's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), while engaging policymakers and the public in climate change discussions in Mossoro, Brazil. The project adopts a transdisciplinary, pro-poor, and intersectional approach, utilising participatory appraisal methods, to explore how marginalised communities in the city of Mossoro understand and are impacted by climate injustice. The project will expand on a long-standing collaboration with a non-academic partner, Fridays for Future Mossoro, stakeholders, and an impacted community to co-produce knowledge and seek to inform policy at a time when Brazil's National Climate Plan 2024-2035 is being developed and cities across the country are gaining visibility. Brazil will also host the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 30) in November 2025. This event provides momentum for collaboration and the development of future projects arising from this pilot experience. Ultimately, the collaboration aims to benefit a historically neglected region within Brazil by addressing climate-related challenges and inspiring actions across the region and similar contexts globally.
IMPLEMENTATION OF A CULTURALLY TAILORED DECENTRALIZATION PROGRAMME FOR SNAKEBITE TREATMENT IN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES IN THE BRAZILIAN AMAZONIA
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
AGHRB award to implement a culturally tailored decentralization programme for snakebite treatment in indigenous communities in the Brazilian Amazonia.
Amazon +10 Initiative
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
This call will support UK-Brazil research expeditions to improve our knowledge of the biodiversity and socio-cultural diversity in the Brazilian Amazon. Projects will address geographic and taxonomic biases in our understanding and encourage co-creation of research with traditional knowledge holders from local and indigenous communities. This will support sustainable development of the Amazon by enabling better use of the region’s natural resource and associated traditional knowledge. This opportunity is led by Brazil (CONFAP and CNPq) and forms part of the wider Amazon+10 initiative. It will strengthen UK-Brazil (both UKRI and the British Council will participate in this opportunity) research and position the UK as a key global player in biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
CHArMING - Control of Hypertension and diAbetes in MINas Gerais
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
MRC GACD Scale up award - CHArMING Control of Hypertension and diAbetes in MINas Gerais, Brazil. Limited access to health services and few health workers to support have led to deficiencies in treatment, outcomes and quality of life of hypertensive and diabetic patients. In Minas Gerais state, Brazil the university and hospital established a Telehealth Network, in 2005, to use digital health solutions to improve access and quality to health care. A specific intervention in hypertension and diabetes was developed with positive results in the HealthRise project (2016-2018), in the Northeast of Minas Gerais, Brazil, a remote region with limited number of health resources. This project will develop a framework to implement this intervention in a larger number of primary health care units, using these locations to improve the management of patients with high blood pressure and diabetes.
(UKRI-Brazil) Participatory monitoring of traditional territories: digital platform for co-production of data on sociobiodiversity in Amazonian areas
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
This proposal seeks to develop a mobile, digital platform that records and catalogs socio-biodiversity through the co-creation of local, traditional and indigenous knowledge(s). Carried out in 9 communities within 3 states in the Legal Amazon: Pará, Amazonas and Maranhão, researchers will cooperate with traditional Amazonian communities with aim of developing an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system to develop an inventory of traditional knoweldges with the biodiversity of traditional territories. The co-creation strategy associated with the digital platform will enable these traditional knowledges associated with biodiversity to be better integrated with more normative Scientific ecological (i.e. socio-biodiversity) data. The main objective of the proposed project is for this digital tool to record and scientifically validate traditional practices and knowledge of biodiversity and relate them to globally available scientific databases, whilst enabling communities to maintain epistemic control over their knowledges and consequently territories. The records made by traditional peoples and communities will be collated with information from the collections of the Brazilian Biodiversity Information System (SiBBR) – an online platform that integrates data and information about biodiversity and ecosystems from different sources, making them accessible for different uses (SIBBR, 2024). The co-creation strategy will also allow the platform to be regularly updated by traditional communities, and thus to become a tool for monitoring biodiversity in their territories. The platform will also consist of a tool-kit that can be used resolve conflicts between these communities (and similarly positioned social groups) and market-based actors that enter traditional territories to extract, profit and otherwise exploit from their rich biodiversity. The recognition and validation of such traditional knowledge associated with biodiversity in these Amazonian territories is crucial for the development of institutional strategies that enable the continuity of conservation practices of traditional peoples and communities, thus ensuring compliance with the provisions of Article 8 of the Biodiversity Convention – specifically that pertaining to legal disputes between market-agents and traditional Amazonian peoples and communities. KEY WORDS Amazônia; traditional populations; traditional knowledge; biodiversity; monitoring platforms
Amazonian BioTechQuilombo - Amazonian Biodiversity, Technology Assessment and Knowledge Exchange with Quilombos
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Our research project stands at the forefront of integrating traditional Quilombola knowledge with cutting-edge scientific methodologies to address critical biodiversity challenges in Brazil's Amazon region. This collaborative effort aims to not only meet but exceed the Official Development Assistance (ODA) requirements of the funding opportunity, embodying a holistic approach that recognizes and values the diverse ways of knowing. Our aim is to diagnose and analyse biodiversity data gaps by integrating traditional Quilombola community knowledge and technologies in various conservation areas of the Amazon. These communities, rooted in their specific relationships to land, territory, ancestry, traditions, and cultural practices, provide invaluable insights into the preservation of natural ecosystems and their resilience to environmental challenges such as deforestation, land use expansion, and climate change. Brazil is the primary beneficiary of our research activities, given the critical importance of the Amazon region in global biodiversity and environmental sustainability. The encroachment of deforestation into various Quilombolas territories serves as compelling evidence of the urgent need to integrate their traditional knowledge with state-of-the-art technologies to address biodiversity loss and promote sustainable practices. Our project combines traditional Quilombola knowledge with advanced technologies such as environmental DNA (eDNA), remote sensing, and artificial intelligence (AI) to comprehensively record biota and characterise landscapes. By engaging Quilombola communities as active partners in the research process, we ensure the effectiveness and cultural relevance of our conservation efforts. Our methodology leverages the convergence of these advanced technologies to map and understand biodiversity across numerous taxa, including mammals, aquatic fauna, birds, and trees. This integration of diverse methodologies not only ensures an internationally excellent standard of research but also fosters collaborations and knowledge exchange among diverse communities. We have identified clear pathways to impact that prioritise community participatory-based biodiversity assessment within Quilombola territories and adjacent areas. By co-developing and validating automated frameworks for biodiversity assessment and monitoring with Quilombola communities, we empower them to actively participate in research and conservation efforts, thereby promoting a participatory and inclusive approach to sustainable development. The expected impact of this biodiversity monitoring framework will be to inform conservation policies and sustainable management. In summary, our project embodies a transformative vision that celebrates the convergence of different epistemologies, leading to new insights and solutions to the environmental challenges facing Brazil and the global community. Through collaborative partnerships and innovative methodologies, we aim to combine scientific methods with traditional knowledge to strengthen the role of traditional Quilombola communities in biodiversity conservation and make an important contribution to the preservation of Brazil's invaluable natural heritage.
Voices of Indigenous Amazonia: historical processes of sociobiodiversity in the face of the challenges of the Anthropocene
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
The Voices of Indigenous Amazonia project proposes to study Amazonian biodiversity and its long-term interactions with Indigenous peoples in three regions characterized by complex sociocultural systems: the Upper Negro Indigenous Territory (Amazonas state); the Xingu Indigenous Territory (Matto Grosso state); and the Kayapó Indigenous Territory (Pará state). These territories stand out for their varied and complex ethnic, historical, and socio-environmental configurations, which include ethnobiological knowledge that is specific to each region. In this project we propose to combine human and biological sciences with Indigenous knowledge to increase our efficiency in producing knowledge about Amazonia. We propose to document biodiversity and its relationship with knowledge and sociocultural practices of present and past Indigenous peoples through: 1) biological inventories of species little known to Western science; 2) characterizing Indigenous landscapes through participatory mapping and remote sensing; 3) fostering exchanges of biodiversity-related knowledge between scientific and Indigenous knowledge; 4) recording long-term anthropogenic changes in vegetation, fauna, and soils ; and 5) collaboratively producing relevant ethnographic, linguistic, and sociocultural documentation. Supported by multifaceted biological studies (descriptions of new species, taxonomic revisions, morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses, distribution modelling and species richness) integrated with studies of traditional Indigenous knowledge, including its role in the domestication of plants and landscapes, as well as studies of millennia-old environmental management technologies within different Indigenous territories, the project will enable large-scale analyses of biological and sociocultural diversity while mitigating existing taxonomic gaps in poorly sampled yet well-preserved regions of Brazilian Legal Amazonia. At a broader level, the project will produce relevant contributions to tackle the current climate emergency and socio-environmental challenges of the Anthropocene, which compromises forests, resources, and the continuity of the lifeways of our partners, Indigenous peoples of Amazonia.
Brazil-UKRI: The recovery of the adaptive capacity of Pre-Columbian tree crops to environmental changes
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Multiple large-scale forest restoration strategies are emerging globally to counteract ecosystems degradation and biodiversity loss. However, these strategies often remain insufficient to offset the loss caused by anthropogenic development. At least two reasons could explain this incomplete performance: i) we ignore how human disturbance affects species genetic variability and their potential to evolve and adapt to the ongoing global changes; ii) there is a major gap in the knowledge about long-term (>100 years) ecosystem dynamics after human disturbance ends. In this project, we propose to investigate the adaptative potential of the Brazil nut and other Amazonian tree crops associated with Brazil nut areas, after anthropic disturbance cessation. We will sample plant leaf and cambium tissue and roots on Pre-Columbian archaeological sites, today known as Terras Pretas Amazônicas (TPA), where the descendants of ancient Brazilian nut trees still grow today. With selected TPA sites sequentially abandoned that have never been reoccupied, we will build a 2,000-year chronosequence. This chronosequence will allow us understand how the Brazilian nut trees and associated Amazonian tree crops recover their adaptive potential after they are released from domestication after Pre-Columbian peoples sequentially abandoned their lands to finally collapse around the XV century with the Spanish invasion. Our team that includes experts in forest restoration, domestication, and genomics will explore changes in the whole genome of the Brazilian nut tree and associated tree crops, as well as its associated soil microbiome, along the chronosequence. The results will help find genomes with increased genetic variability and thus adaptive potential, by identifying specific functions related to an enhanced adaptive potential. Propagules from individuals with these functions can then be used in tropical forest restoration, and agriculture, increasing the resilience and resistance of forests to ongoing global changes.
Improving adoption of mental health interventions among low-income university students in Brazil
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Mental health conditions are the leading cause of disability among youth worldwide. These problems are more common among youth living in poverty. Mental health problems can have short- and long-term impacts on physical and mental health, education, employment and relationships. University students living in poverty have high rates of mental health problems and limited support. These students face strong pressures to perform and succeed and to support their families. These pressures also emerge during a life stage where there is greater potential to engage in risky behaviour, and increased pressure for academic achievement - which can further increase risk of mental health problems. Effective support for vulnerable students could improve their mental health and future life chances. Most youth, however, receive no care or support. In Brazil, around 80% of youth with mental health conditions receive no care and fewer receive evidence-based treatment. Although there is a great deal of evidence for effectiveness of psychotherapy (such as cognitive behavioural therapy [CBT]) for preventing and treating youth mental health problems, lack of services and trained providers significantly limits access. Moreover, barriers such as transportation, cost and stigma further limit access. These barriers are greater for poor vs. non-poor youth. Use of digital interventions could improve access to care. They are lower cost and could reduce stress on health systems and reach more users. They could also address stigma given they are more private. However, many digital interventions fail to engage users and sustain involvement. This limits their potential to improve the user's mental health. This research would test whether combining a digital mental health intervention with peer support and/or a conditional cash transfer (CCT) (i.e., monetary incentive conditional on intervention participation) could increase participation and engagement among low-income university students. Research suggests CCTs can increase healthy behaviours and promote engagement by enabling students to purchase books and food, thereby avoiding food insecurity, reducing financial stress to enable focus on intervention, and reduce shame. Other research shows peer support can reduce stigma and increase participation particularly among vulnerable populations. First, we would adapt and pilot a digital mental health intervention (e-CBT), shown to be effective among university students, in combination with CCT and/or peer support in collaboration with low-income university students. Following refinement, we would see whether combining the e-CBT with: (1) CCT; (2) peer support or (3) CCT+peer support improves participation and engagement. We would use innovative methods to explore longer-term social and economic impacts of the intervention in combination with CCT and peer support.
Speaking up for COPD through Artificial Intelligence in Brazil
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
CONTEXT: The burden and disability associated with chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) is considerable, often falling on the most vulnerable in societies including those living in low- and middle-income countries such as Brazil. Specifically, the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is increasing, and COPD presents a particular health challenge in Brazil where the prevalence in adults exceeds 17%. Most people with COPD in Brazil remain undiagnosed, and therefore untreated, because of limited access to the current diagnostic test called 'spirometry'. Spirometry is not widely, or equitably available in many primary healthcare settings in Brazil - including in Sao Paulo state. Innovative approaches to the diagnosis and management of COPD are therefore urgently required. THE CHALLENGE WE ADDRESS: We seek to transform the diagnosis of CRDs in primary care in Sao Paulo state, Brazil. We will do this through the use of vocal biomarkers derived by artificial-intelligence analysis of speech patterns. This technique has shown promise in English and Dutch languages, as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in CRDs, but has not been applied in (Brazilian) Portuguese, nor been deployed in real-life primary care settings where the need for easier tools to diagnose CRDs is greatest. AIMS and OBJECTIVES: Our over-arching aim is to develop and test AI-derived vocal biomarkers to support better diagnosis and management of CRDs in Brazil. To do this, we will work as an equitable partnership between the Federal University of Sao Carlos (Brazil) and University College London (UCL), with voice analysis experts at the University of Maastrict (Netherlands). We will: AIM 1: establish a dataset of voices from individuals with and without CRDs in Brazil. AIM 2: test the discriminative accuracy of AI-derived vocal biomarkers to distinguish those with CRDs from those with normal lung function. AIM 3: evaluate the utility of vocal biomarkers in COPD to detect the development of exacerbations of disease which are the major cause of ill-health and lost productivity in COPD. AIM 4: evaluate the utility of vocal biomarkers in COPD to provide objective evidence of benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programmes, reflecting improvements in breathlessness, health status, and exercise capacity. POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS and BENEFIT: Transforming diagnosis and management of CRDs in Brazil would have wide health, social and economic benefits and provide an exemplar AI-health solution in an area of considerable unmet need
I-GAME: Integrated Genomics and AI as a tool for Malaria Elimination in Brazil
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Malaria, caused by Plasmodium parasites, continues to be a major global health concern, with millions of cases and hundreds of thousands of deaths annually. In 2023, Brazil reported over 140,000 cases, marking it as the country with the highest malaria burden in South America. Notably, there are significant data gaps, particularly in high-risk regions such as indigenous communities and gold mining areas around the Amazon. Efforts to control malaria worldwide are further complicated by the emergence of Plasmodium drug resistance (DR), especially against artemisinin-based treatments. While resistance to artemisinin has primarily been observed in Southeast Asia, there is concern that similar issues may arise in other regions with comparable transmission dynamics, including parts of South America like the Brazilian Amazon. The generation and analysis of Plasmodium genomic data are critical for identifying DR mutations and understanding transmission patterns, including the cross-border movement of strains. Advanced genomic techniques, such as whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and targeted gene amplicon sequencing (AMP-SEQ), are used to identify species, DR mutations, and genetic diversity. Platforms like Oxford Nanopore and Illumina provide detailed clinical and epidemiological insights, thereby enhancing surveillance strategies. However, the effective utilisation of extensive genomic datasets is often hampered by a shortage of bioinformatics expertise and advanced informatics tools. Developing AI-driven informatics tools, such as the Malaria-Profiler software, is crucial for the rapid analysis and interpretation of WGS data. These tools can provide actionable insights into species identification, DR profiles, and geographic origins, which are essential for guiding clinical management, surveillance efforts, and public health interventions, particularly in data-limited regions like Brazil. Leveraging a well-established collaboration in malaria epidemiology, with extensive field site access and expertise in genomics and AI methodologies, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and the Institute of Biomedical Sciences at the University of São Paulo (ICB-USP) aim to further enhance these informatics tools. The project seeks to integrate AI models to continuously update mutation libraries and improve the predictive accuracy for species identification, DR profiling, and geographic profiling, alongside other genomic information that could support the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP). This initiative includes conducting WGS/AMP-SEQ in Brazilian malaria hotspots to better understand genetic diversity and inform strategies for disease control and elimination in the country. The integration of AI methods with genomic data for parasite profiling has the potential to revolutionise malaria control. It enables proactive surveillance, personalised treatment strategies, and rapid responses to emerging threats, such as DR, including the identification of critical emerging Plasmodium mutations. This approach not only improves clinical care but also strengthens public health systems by facilitating informed decision-making and promoting collaborative data sharing among researchers and healthcare providers globally. The project will also involve key stakeholders, including Brazil's NMCP, to enhance capacity in AI and genomics through workshops and the development of dashboards and end-user reports. These resources will aid in implementing and validating the informatics platform, incorporating AI functionalities such as spatial analysis for public health applications. These efforts aim to ensure the tools' readiness for clinical and surveillance purposes, thereby contributing to reducing malaria and other infectious diseases in Brazil and aligning with the World Health Organization's regional elimination goals and global health objectives.