Brazil

For many years, Rio de Janeiro has held the dubious distinction of being one of the world’s most beautiful cities, and at the same time, one of the most dangerous. This... Show More + report is the story of Rio’s attempt to break with history and establish a new kind of state presence in its favelas. This report documents how life in the favelas is changing as a result of the Police Pacification Unit (UPP) pacification effort, as seen through the eyes of favela residents themselves. This study used a qualitative, case-study approach and consisted of observations, focus groups, and key informant interviews in four favelas. The study fits into the broader territorial approach to urban and social development that the World Bank has been supporting in both the state and city of Rio de Janeiro, and for which the historical alliance between federal, state and municipal governments in Rio has been crucial. These projects have focused on strengthening planning and management of urban growth in the metropolitan region, promoting the provision of affordable housing with access to infrastructure and service, and supporting the implementation of a targeted, comprehensive social development program for the urban poor. Under the social development agenda, the Bank has been providing support to Social UPP since its design stage, in 2010, through technical assistance services to strengthen social governance and territorially-based monitoring and evaluation. Show Less -

This report provides an assessment of accounting, financial reporting, and auditing practices within the corporate sector in Brazil, using International Financial Reporting... Show More + Standards (IFRS) and International Standards on Auditing (ISA) as benchmarks, and drawing on international experience and good practices in those fields. The main objective of this Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes (ROSC) assessment is to assist the Government in strengthening private sector accounting and auditing practices, and in enhancing financial transparency in Brazil's corporate sector. The development objectives these efforts address are improving the investment climate, fostering competitiveness and furthering regional and international economic integration. Brazil is the largest economy in South America, with an estimated 187 million inhabitants and US$ 1,067 billion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2006. To increase investments in infrastructure, it seeks to reduce its cost of doing business and to improve enterprises' access to long term financing. Banks and, more recently, the capital market are the main source of financing for the private sector. Brazil has one of the most dynamic securities markets in Latin America, with almost 400 domestic companies listed on the Sao Paulo stock exchange; 37 of these are also listed in the US. Brazil's strategy to boost the development of its private sector will benefit from the further development of the stock market, which requires Brazilian corporations' financial reporting to meet the highest international standards. Show Less -