Pursuing Sustainable Progress for Brazil Through Local Government – Harvard Kennedy School

Report on the Leadership and Sustainable Development Initiatives of David Benevides

Executive Summary

This report details the career of David Benevides, former mayor of Redenção, Brazil, with a specific focus on his alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It outlines his mayoral initiatives, professional development at Harvard Kennedy School (HKS), and future political ambitions, all framed within the context of promoting sustainable and inclusive public policy.

Profile and Political Career

David Benevides, a civil engineer, began his political career in 2016 when he was elected mayor of Redenção, Ceará, becoming one of the youngest mayors in Brazil. Over two terms, his administration prioritized policies directly contributing to several key SDGs.

Mayoral Tenure: A Focus on Sustainable Development Goals

During his eight years as mayor, Mr. Benevides’s agenda was centered on creating sustainable growth and reducing social inequality, reflecting a strong commitment to the SDG framework.

Key Initiatives and SDG Alignment

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: Prioritized the expansion of public healthcare services to ensure accessible and quality medical care for all residents.
• SDG 4: Quality Education: Focused on improving the local education system to provide inclusive and equitable learning opportunities.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: Invested in infrastructure projects designed to support long-term economic and social development.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: Implemented policies aimed at promoting social inclusion and creating opportunities to reduce systemic social and economic disparities.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: Guided urban development to foster a safe, resilient, and sustainable community environment.

Professional Development at Harvard Kennedy School (HKS)

Following his mayorship, Mr. Benevides enrolled in the HKS Executive Education program, Senior Executives in State and Local Government, to enhance his capacity to address complex public policy challenges in alignment with global sustainability targets.

Motivations and Objectives

1. To acquire innovative tools and a global perspective for tackling the challenges facing Brazil over the next two decades.
2. To refine leadership skills and strengthen the ability to design inclusive, long-term policies that advance the SDGs.
3. To learn new methods for working with emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, in public administration.

Key Learnings and Application

The program provided practical tools for enhanced decision-making and strategic policy design. Key takeaways included:

• Critical Analysis: The ability to deconstruct information, question assumptions, and compare diverse perspectives to formulate more accurate strategies.
• Resilience and Adaptability: Experiential learning activities fostered the capacity to apply theory to real-world scenarios and respond effectively under pressure.
• Global Collaboration: Engagement with a global cohort provided valuable insights into international solutions that could be adapted to local Brazilian contexts, reinforcing SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Impact on Public Health Initiatives

The knowledge gained at HKS was directly applied to ongoing projects in Redenção, demonstrating a tangible return on professional development.

The Comprehensive Medical Center Project

A significant initiative is the creation of a comprehensive medical center, which directly supports SDG 3. This facility provides free specialized care, including pediatrics, cardiology, and pediatric neurology, to over 2,000 residents under Brazil’s universal health system. Mr. Benevides utilized methodologies from HKS to analyze strategic decisions and identify lessons for future public health challenges.

Future Ambitions and Continued Commitment to SDGs

Mr. Benevides plans to pursue a position as state deputy in Ceará’s parliament. This move represents an opportunity to scale his experience and commitment to the SDGs from a municipal to a statewide level.

His future focus remains on addressing pressing challenges through robust policy development. He aims to leverage the strategic foundation from HKS to address structural inequalities (SDG 10) and shape policies that promote long-term sustainable progress for the state of Ceará, contributing to the broader goals of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article explicitly mentions David Benevides’ focus on healthcare during his time as mayor. He “prioritized expanding healthcare” and initiated the creation of a “comprehensive medical center” that provides free services, directly aligning with the goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being.

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  Benevides’ work included “improving education” in his city. Furthermore, the article details his own pursuit of executive education at Harvard Kennedy School to “refine leadership, expand vision, and strengthen the ability to design inclusive, long-term policies,” which connects to the goal of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  A central theme of the article is Benevides’ mission to reduce inequality. He states, “At the heart of my mission was always the goal of reducing social inequality by creating opportunity” and aims to address “the structural inequalities of the present.” This directly connects to the goal of reducing inequality within and among countries.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  As the mayor of the city of Redenção, Benevides’ work is inherently linked to urban development. The article notes his investment in “infrastructure to promote social inclusion and sustainable growth,” which is a core component of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The article highlights Benevides’ career in local and state government, his efforts to improve public service, and his focus on effective governance. His desire to learn at HKS to advance “public administration” and achieve “stronger decision-making,” along with his plan to pursue a position as state deputy for “policy development,” all point to the goal of building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage.

  This target is directly addressed through the description of the comprehensive medical center in Redenção, which “serves over 2,000 residents free of charge under Brazil’s universal health system.” This initiative is a clear effort to provide access to quality essential healthcare services with financial risk protection.

• Target 4.7: Ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development.

  Benevides’ enrollment in the HKS program to gain “deeper knowledge, global perspective, and innovative tools” to design “inclusive, long-term policies” and promote “sustainable progress for the future” aligns with this target, which focuses on education for sustainable development.

• Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all.

  His stated goal of “reducing social inequality by creating opportunity” and his focus on designing “inclusive, long-term policies” directly correspond to this target, which aims to foster the inclusion of all members of society.

• Target 11.3: Enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for… sustainable human settlement planning and management.

  As mayor, Benevides’ work on “investing in infrastructure to promote social inclusion and sustainable growth” within his city is a practical application of this target, which focuses on improving the planning and management of urban areas.

• Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.

  The article emphasizes Benevides’ focus on improving his leadership to advance “public administration” and enable “stronger decision-making.” His plan to become a state deputy to focus on “policy development” and “creating solutions with statewide impact” reflects a commitment to building more effective and accountable institutions.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 3.8: The article provides a specific, quantifiable indicator for progress on universal health coverage. The medical center “serves over 2,000 residents free of charge.” This number can be used as a direct measure of the population covered by these essential health services, relating to the official indicator 3.8.1 (Coverage of essential health services).
• Indicator for Target 4.7: The indicators are qualitative and based on outcomes. The article implies progress through Benevides’ strengthened “ability to question assumptions, compare perspectives, and design more accurate strategies.” This suggests an improved capacity for leadership and policy-making for sustainable development, though it is not a numerical metric.
• Indicator for Target 10.2: The article implies a process-based indicator: the successful design and implementation of “inclusive, long-term policies.” The existence and scope of such policies would serve as a measure of progress toward promoting social inclusion.
• Indicator for Target 11.3: An implied indicator is the level of investment in or the completion of infrastructure projects aimed at promoting social inclusion and sustainable growth. The article mentions “investing in infrastructure” as a key action, which itself is a measurable activity.
• Indicator for Target 16.6: The indicators are qualitative, focusing on the quality of governance. The article implies progress through the development of “stronger decision-making” processes and the creation of “tangible solutions to today’s most pressing challenges.” These reflect an increase in institutional effectiveness.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: hks.harvard.edu