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Latest News
  • [ December 4, 2025 ] Portrait of a Centenary-Old Favela of Stilt Houses: Belém’s Vila da Barca Resists, Organizes and Fights for Sanitation and Adequate Housing #HousingWatch
  • [ November 30, 2025 ] The Story of Dona Pascoalina, Midwife and Healer of Morro do Borel by Community Contributors
  • [ November 15, 2025 ] ‘There’s No Such Thing as Normal After a Massacre’: One Week After Police Mega-Operation Kills 121 People, Residents From Complexos do Alemão and Penha Speak Out #UPPWatch
  • [ November 13, 2025 ] ‘Human Beings Forget That They Are Nature’: Favelas Teach the Path to the Future at the 2nd Favela Sustainability Festival Civil Society
  • [ November 12, 2025 ] Food Sovereignty and Culinary Heritage Connect with Fight for Climate Justice at the 2nd Sustainable Favela Festival Civil Society
HomeMorro da Formiga

Morro da Formiga

*Highlight

Water Societies and Other Sustainability Initiatives Thrive in Morro da Formiga

By Claire Lepercq, Lovinia Reynolds, Nia McAllister • October 10, 2015

Clique aqui para Português Community-based sustainability projects are an integral part of the rich history of the community of Morro da Formiga. Located in the North Zone of the city, Formiga borders the vast Tijuca Forest and […]

#UPPWatch

Pacifying Police Unit (UPP) Installations Part 2: 2010-2011

By Patrick Ashcroft • February 7, 2015

Clique aqui para Português This is Part 2 in a five-part series documenting Pacifying Police Unit (UPP) Installations. If the first six implementations can be described as the honeymoon period of the Pacifying Police Unit (UPP), […]

#GentrificationWatch

Brazilian Institute of Architects Calls for Protection of the Favelas

By André Balocco, Tassia Di Carvalho • Translation by Ollie Davies • May 10, 2014

For the original by André Balocco and Tássia Di Carvalho in Portuguese in O Dia click here. Brazilian Institute of Architects Council Member proposes law against real estate speculation in the 10th “Rio Without Borders” debate. […]

Policies

History of Rio de Janeiro’s Military Police Part 3: Community Policing

By Patrick Ashcroft • March 22, 2014

Clique aqui para Português This is Part 3 in a four-part series on the History of Rio de Janeiro’s Military Police. Click here for Parts 1, 2, and 4. You cannot imagine what government neglect of the […]

#Rio2016

Rio Behind on Olympic Promise to Plant 24 Million Trees

By Blair Cameron • February 28, 2014

Clique aqui para Português Rio de Janeiro is falling behind on its promise to plant 24 million trees to offset the carbon emissions produced as a result of hosting the 2016 Olympic Games. According to […]

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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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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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  • Content Map
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