World Bank Invests $120M to Strengthen Social Services in Salvador, Brazil

By modernizing core public services and enabling digital transformation, the initiative will help Salvador build a healthier, more educated, and more resilient population, laying a foundation for long-term inclusive growth.

The World Bank Board of Directors has approved a new investment operation aimed at expanding access to quality health, education, and social assistance services in Salvador, the capital of Bahia in northeastern Brazil. The initiative—part of the Salvador Social Multi-Sector Service Delivery Program III—marks a significant step toward strengthening the city's human capital and improving service delivery for millions of residents.

Reaching Salvador’s Most Vulnerable Communities

The new phase of the Salvador Social Program is expected to benefit:

• 1.7 million residents who rely on the municipal public health system

• 104,000 students enrolled in municipal schools

• 1.1 million people registered in Cadastro Único, Brazil’s social registry for low-income and vulnerable populations

By integrating reforms across the health, education, and social protection sectors, the Program aims to create a more inclusive, efficient, and productive workforce, while ensuring that critical services reach those who need them most.

A Landmark Investment in Social Development

Salvador’s mayor, Bruno Reis, highlighted the transformative impact of the initiative:

“As Salvador Social enters its third phase, it reaffirms itself as the largest social investment program in the city’s history, with over US$250 million invested during its first two phases. With continued World Bank support, this new phase will deepen these advances by improving service quality, expanding innovation, and strengthening care for our most vulnerable populations.”

The new operation includes a US$120 million World Bank investment, forming part of a broader US$1.8 billion municipal initiative to enhance public services and strengthen the city’s long-term development trajectory.

Prioritizing Quality Healthcare, Stronger Schools, and Digital Social Assistance

World Bank Country Director for Brazil Cécile Fruman emphasized the program’s impact on everyday life:

“This program will help Salvador deliver better and more inclusive services in areas that are fundamental for people’s daily lives: quality healthcare, stronger schools, and more responsive social assistance.”

Key focus areas include:

1. Strengthening Specialized Health Services

• Expanding access to services for non-communicable diseases (NCDs)

• Improving coordination across Salvador’s municipal health network

• Reducing waiting times and improving quality of care

• Enhancing workforce skills in diagnostics, prevention, and chronic disease management

2. Enhancing Learning and Education Quality

• Improving foundational literacy and numeracy

• Strengthening teacher training and pedagogical support

• Promoting inclusive education for learners with disabilities

• Modernizing digital learning tools and data systems

These efforts aim to boost student performance, reduce learning gaps, and build stronger schools.

3. Modernizing Social Assistance With Digital Innovation

The Program will introduce new tools to improve:

• Social assistance delivery

• Case management and referrals

• Beneficiary monitoring

• Integrated data systems

Digitalizing processes will increase efficiency and ensure that vulnerable families receive timely, targeted support.

Building a Skilled Social Sector Workforce

Across all sectors—health, education, and social protection—the Program will invest in workforce development, creating new opportunities in:

• Digital systems and IT support

• Data management and analytics

• Monitoring and evaluation

• Social services case management

This integrated workforce approach will help ensure that reforms translate into better services on the ground.

Supporting Human Capital and Inclusive Growth

The Salvador Social III Program aligns with Brazil’s broader development priorities and the World Bank’s Country Partnership Framework, which focuses on reducing inequality, strengthening public institutions, and expanding opportunities for marginalized communities.

By modernizing core public services and enabling digital transformation, the initiative will help Salvador build a healthier, more educated, and more resilient population, laying a foundation for long-term inclusive growth.