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  • [ October 23, 2026 ] ‘We Are at Risk of Losing Everything We Hold Most Precious:’ What’s at Stake When Brazilians Head to the Polls This Sunday [OPINION] #CoronavirusWatch
  • [ October 22, 2026 ] What Do Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro Policy Platforms Intend For Favelas? #UPPWatch
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Asa Branca vs Ilha Pura [Ilha Pura image from Vice]
#Rio2016

Asa Branca Wins the Gold! Is a Rio Favela Greener Than the LEED-Certified Olympic Village?

By Eliot Allen, Julia Jones • August 3, 2016

Clique aqui para Português The Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro are almost upon us, yet the city’s lack of preparedness continues to provide international media with an endless feed of concerning stories. The most […]

#HousingWatch

An Island in Your Own City: Life in Gated Communities in Barra da Tijuca

By Christian Kuitert • June 27, 2016

Clique aqui para Português The gated community is a well-known phenomenon across the Americas. The model first gained popularity in the United States before South American countries adopted this architectural style in the 1970s. Real estate developers created and marketed […]

Asa Branca is one kilometer from the Olympic Park
#ParticipationWatch

Near Olympic Park, Asa Branca Favela Installing Cameras in Response to Olympics Insecurity

By Christian Kuitert • June 14, 2016

Clique aqui para Português ”It’s like we’re throwing a party in our house where the whole world is invited, but we the owners can’t be in the way.” That’s how community leader Carlos Alberta Costa, […]

#EvictionsWatch

‘Pure Island’: Exclusivity, Isolation & Elitism at Rio’s ‘Sustainable’ Future Olympic Village

By Eduarda Araujo, Francis Torres, Ian Waldron • October 16, 2014

Clique aqui para Português This post is RioOnWatch’s third and final contribution to Blog Action Day 2014 in which bloggers around the world reflect on this year’s theme: Inequality. Check out our series of articles marking this day. Brazil is known for […]

#HousingWatch

Gated Communities and Gating Communities: The Future of Urban Development in Rio?

By Caitlin Dixon • October 16, 2014

Clique aqui para Português This post is the first of three RioOnWatch contributions to Blog Action Day 2014 in which bloggers around the world reflect on this year’s theme: Inequality. Check out our series of […]

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RioOnWatch’s anti-racist reporting series won silver in the 2022 inaugural The Anthem Awards, in the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion category among Best Local Awareness Programs.
A Project of

About

In May 2010, Catalytic Communities launched what was originally Rio Olympics Neighborhood Watch (hence RioOnWatch), a program to bring visibility to favela community voices in the lead-up to the 2016 Rio Olympics. This news site, RioOnWatch.org, grew into a much-needed and unique reference featuring favela perspectives on the urban transformation of Rio. With diverse and deeply interlinked articles by a mix of community reporters, resident opinions, solidarity reporters, international observers, and academic researchers, we work to engender a more accurate picture of favelas, their contributions to the city, and the potential of favela-led community development in Rio and around the world.

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10 Years! Check Out Our Story:

Awards

Special Thanks

Fundação Heinrich Böll Brasil
World Habitat
Fideicomiso de la Tierra Caño Martín Peña
Pastoral de Favelas
Center for CLT Innovation
Global Land Alliance
Ecocity Builders
Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation
SDSU Behner Stiefel Center
The Rio Times
Forum Grita Baixada
Beto Paixão Graphic Design
Architecture Museum of Vienna
Yale School of Architecture

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  • Violations
    • Human Rights
    • Housing Rights
    • Police Violence
    • Government Neglect
  • Organizing
    • Community Organizing
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    • Sustainability
    • Participation
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    • Culture
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  • Content Map
    • by Community Contributors
    • by Int’l Observers
    • Series
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      • Energy Justice Series
    • Event Reports
    • Video Stories
    • Photo-Essays
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  • About
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    • License
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