IDB approves $60m loan to cut flood risks and boost resilience in Goiânia, Brazil

The operation is part of the IDB Group’s Ready and Resilient Americas initiative and aligns with its South Connection program, which supports connectivity, trade and sustainable growth in South America.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a $60 million loan to help reduce flood risks for residents of Goiânia, Brazil. The project will focus on the Macambira-Anicuns Basin, where neighborhoods are exposed to flooding, and will improve urban drainage and solid waste management. About 90,000 residents in the basin are expected to benefit directly.

The operation is part of the IDB Group's Ready and Resilient Americas initiative and aligns with its South Connection program, which supports connectivity, trade and sustainable growth in South America. It is the second project under a Conditional Credit Line for Investment Projects approved by the IDB in 2025 to improve socioenvironmental, socioeconomic and public health conditions in Brazil. The Goiânia program will combine infrastructure improvements with support for residents and municipal agencies.

Nearly 65,000 people are expected to gain access to additional parks, green areas and public spaces. The municipality's estimated 1.5 million residents will also benefit from broader early warning system coverage and improvements to urban drainage management. The project's measures are intended to limit flood impacts and improve daily life across the city.

Drainage works and public spaces

The loan will finance drainage infrastructure, linear parks and other urban improvements in the Macambira-Anicuns Basin. These investments are designed to reduce the effects of flooding and expand the amount of public green space available to nearby residents. Better drainage and waste management are also central parts of the program.

Families who need to be resettled will receive comprehensive support, including housing solutions, compensation and assistance with land tenure regularization. The project will also support flood monitoring and early warning systems, helping the municipality identify risks and alert residents. These services will extend the benefits of the basin's infrastructure work beyond the neighborhoods receiving direct investment.

Municipal capacity and loan terms

The program will strengthen the operational capacity of Goiânia's Municipal Environmental Agency and Municipal Secretariat for the Environment. Its broader management improvements will support the city's drainage system and early warning services. The IDB estimates the municipality's population at 1.5 million.

The $60 million loan has a 24.5-year repayment term, including a six-year grace period, and an interest rate based on SOFR. Goiânia's program also includes $15 million in local counterpart financing. The operation must complete the procedures required under Brazilian law before it can be signed and implemented.