Fostering Inclusion of Afro-Descendant People in Latin American and Caribbean Cities

 Title: Fostering Inclusion of Afro-Descendant People in Latin American and Caribbean Cities

Inequality has long been a deeply ingrained issue in the history of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The cities within this region, given their vast diversity and size, serve as a microcosm of this problem. In this context, minorities, whether defined by ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or other factors, are particularly vulnerable. Often, they find themselves targets of discrimination, poverty, and exclusion from society. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) firmly believes that achieving true sustainable development in the region is impossible without equity, diversity, and inclusion. As cities serve as engines of progress, they must also act as engines of change to achieve this goal. Through the IDB's strategic "Vision 2025, Reinvest in the Americas," vulnerable populations are identified as a key focus for closing development gaps in LAC in the coming years.

In light of Zero Discrimination Day (March 1) and the approaching International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (March 21), this article emphasizes the significance of national and local policies in ending discrimination against one of the most vulnerable populations in the region: Afro-descendants.

**Cities: Epicenter of Vulnerability in the Afro-Descendant Population**

Cities represent epicenters of inequality. Regrettably, their poorest neighborhoods often serve as traps for their residents' development. These urban areas concentrate households with fewer economic opportunities and poorer health standards, lacking access to basic services and urban infrastructure. Moreover, these households frequently face discrimination, further reducing their chances of escaping vulnerability.

Recent data reveals that Afro-descendant households experience higher levels of poverty and overcrowding compared to the rest of the population. For example, in Ecuador, Bolivia, and Honduras, over 25% of the urban Afro-descendant population resides in overcrowded housing. In Ecuador, the level of overcrowding among Afro-descendants is 14 percentage points higher than among non-Afro-descendants.

**Afro-Descendant Population: Where They Are and How They Live**

Nearly 33% of Latin America's population, around 150 million people, is of African descent. They are concentrated primarily in Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, and Ecuador. In the Caribbean, countries such as the Dominican Republic and Haiti have larger proportions of this population.

Currently, over 82% of Afro-descendants in LAC live in urban areas. They are twice as likely to reside in poor or informal neighborhoods compared to non-Afro-descendant households. The data supports this assertion: while 8% of urban households in Colombia live in informal neighborhoods, 22% of Afro-descendant households do. These disparities are also present in other countries, such as Brazil, with figures of 19% versus 34%, and Mexico, with 5% versus 10%.

Additionally, the Afro-descendant population in LAC is 2.5 times more likely to experience chronic poverty than non-Afro-descendants. Between 65% and 80% of Afro-descendant women in Brazil, Costa Rica, and Ecuador work in informal jobs, many in domestic service without social security, making them highly vulnerable to income fluctuations. Furthermore, they are the demographic most affected by unemployment in LAC.

**How to Improve Afro-Descendants' Rights and Visibility in Our Cities**

Several international and regional commitments aim to address the challenges, rights, and cultural identity of Afro-descendants. The UN General Assembly declared 2015-2024 as the International Decade for African Descent People, with the theme "African Descent People: recognition, justice, and development." This initiative created the United Nations Permanent Forum for People of African Descent. Regionally, there is the "International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination" and the "Inter-American Convention against Racism, Racial Discrimination and Related Forms of Intolerance," ratified by several LAC countries.

However, despite progress, there is much work left to be done. Here are three crucial areas where cities owe a debt to Afro-descendants:

**1. Address Structural Social Exclusion:** Afro-descendants often face geographic segregation. Public policies should prioritize improving underserved and informal neighborhoods, expanding access to adequate housing, and providing safe public spaces.

An example from Uruguay illustrates this approach. The Municipality of Montevideo, in partnership with Afro-World Organizations, facilitates Afro-descendants' access to housing through the Afro-World Family Units Program (Ufama). The Intendancy also initiated the Resilient Afro-descendant Mapping, emphasizing the resources, strengths, and positive contributions of the Afro-descendant community. This project aims to develop a territorialization strategy for the Afro-ethnic-racial dimension, fostering empowerment.

**2. Enhance Statistical Visibility:** To enhance intervention effectiveness, cities need georeferenced human capital indicators that identify Afro-descendant populations' conditions. These indicators should cover access and quality of education, health, housing, public spaces, and environmental vulnerability.

**3. Promote Economic Development:** Cities should facilitate and promote access to the formal labor market. Providing childcare services is essential to enable single mothers to engage in income-earning activities.

Colombia's Medellín offers a relevant example. The Mayor's Office, through its Afro-descendant Municipal Plan 2020-2029, promotes economic development for the Afro-descendant population through employment training and entrepreneurship support.

**Closing Gaps with Identity and Social Inclusion**

Fostering development and providing opportunities for Afro-descendants in LAC cities necessitates implementing actions that respect and amplify the voices of all residents. This entails promoting citizen participation, economic empowerment, access to quality urban services, decent housing, and safe public spaces. Furthermore, considering the intersectionality of vulnerability conditions and integrating a gender perspective into all actions is essential.

Together, we can work to increase access and enhance the quality of public service delivery to Afro-descendants by developing culturally appropriate solutions that align with their social and cultural characteristics. It's time to acknowledge the Afro-Latino population's significance and address the colonial legacies that continue to persist. By working collectively, we can cast off the shackles of colonialism and imperialism and build a more equitable and inclusive Latin America and Caribbean.

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