Saving the City of God: An Interview with Terra Nova

[Editor's note: Terra Nova, along with the two other winners in our Property Rights competition, are at a World Bank event today to share the innovative work that distinguished them from a pool of more than 210 entries from around the world.]

Brazil. Land Rights. Poverty. 

What picture do these words bring to mind?

For many, it conjures up City of God-like images of crowded violent favelas and communities living in chaos. With over 12 million Brazilians living in 3.2 million informal dwellings without access to public services, that dark visualization wouldn’t be far from the truth.

Yet to Andre Albuquerque, founder of Terra Nova and winner of the Property Rights: Identity, Dignity & Opportunity for All competition, it means much more – it means hope.   

In 2001, Andre founded Terra Nova – a social enterprise dedicated to the sustainable regularization of illegally occupied properties in urban areas. Terra Nova aims to resolve land conflicts through win-win situations for the owners and occupiers (also known as “squatters”). Since government commitment to land rights is overstretched and underfunded, Terra Nova attempts to fill the gap left by the government.

So how does it work?

1. Occupants pay an indemnity to gain legal rights to the property.
2. The land deed(s) goes to the to occupants.
3. Landowners are freed of any accumulated tax burdens on the property.

Money resulting from a negotiation is split between Terra Nova, a community project fund, and the property owner. Property owners accept these deals, since the alternative (going through the judicial system) often yields no resolution or financial return.

Changemakers had a chance to speak with Andre, for some insight on his journey, his experience with the competition, and a few thoughts what is next for Terra Nova.

Describe Terra Nova in your own words.
Today we are at a turning point – we are in transition.  Until now, we have been testing the methodology locally, but we now feel ready to take the next step. Perhaps we will scale to parts of Brazil, and eventually all of Latin America.

The business model is replicable globally, despite the structure of the regulatory regime. Wherever there is a need for conflict resolution and a defense of land rights, our model can work.

Do you find differences between property rights challenges in urban (as opposed to rural) areas?
I consider that our methodology, in a broad sense, is applicable in rural areas. Conflict resolution in rural areas is similar to that of urban areas. However, the regulatory framework is different. But it is possible as some of the principals of our methodology are applicable in rural areas, so some adjustments to the model would be needed.

Is there a specific accomplishment or impact of Terra Nova that has moved you?
I believe that in a general sense, what moves us is to see social development of our projects, and to see personal growth of community members motivated by the regularization process. When you get to know the community and its members, you create a relationship with the family, and appreciate how important it is for that family to feel secure in the place where they live. You can see the improvement of the quality of living which results from the regularization process. It is very exciting to see what is possible, especially when we arrive in a new area and realize just how much can be done.

For example, when you see a family that lives in a very precarious situation – especially with children in areas at risk. There is a tremendous desire to solve the problem quickly. This moves me. To see how it is possible for there to be so many human beings with their basic needs unmet, to see a world with so many possibilities, and our potential to make bring these two realities together.

What was your experience like with the Property Rights competition?
I was most surprised to see how well received the idea was by the rest of the community. Beyond the benefits of sharing information and getting feedback, the competition also gave us all an opportunity to see what other people are doing in our field.

What do you plan to do next?
We plan to expand. At the moment we are identifying and collaborating with others who can help us scale this work and reach more people. It is my primary goal this year is to find partners who are truly aligned with our mission, so that we can contribute our methodology and technical expertise with institutions that have the drive and the intent to transform and make this a better world – to fulfill basic human needs.