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Design for Resilience: Mapping the Needs of Brazilian Communities to Tackle COVID-19 Challenges

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The COVID-19 pandemic brought the urgency in the search for innovative solutions in different areas of knowledge to mitigate the effects and impacts of the disease, whether on health, social or economic terms. Urban and socioeconomic determinants of informal-settlement communities make COVID-19 challenges even harder to be overcome, requiring local and situated solutions that consider their livelihood diversity. This manuscript shows the results of an exploratory pilot study which addressed the potential of participatory design to contribute to mitigating COVID-19 effects and impacts, identifying the problems, adaptative strategies, challenges for and needs of Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte communities. It was drawn from triangulation of methods and analysis of multiple (primary and secondary) data sources. The needs of communities were raised through online roundtables with community members, representatives of NGOs, designers, architects and researchers. Analysis of the roundtables was conducted collaboratively by the researchers through online tools, including Affinity Mapping, and 5 Whys. The findings point out the needs of communities clustered in 6 major themes, five of which indicate potential areas in which participatory design can play a meaningful role and need to be further investigated.
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Design for Resilience: Mapping the Needs of
Brazilian Communities to Tackle COVID-19
Challenges
Mariana Fonseca Braga a * | Eduardo Romeiro Filho b
Rosângela Míriam L.O. Mendonça c | Lorena Gomes Ribeiro de Oliveira c
Haddon Galvão Guimarães Pereira d

 !"# "#$!%&!'(&(!
%"#%"#)!$&!'(&(!
 !"# "#*!!#+&!'(
&(!
,-!.
ABSTRACT
*  /0$123                    !   
.4!4
!  !            1      !1
!./0$123!!  5
!!!!!*4
  !      6!  !    4      !    
   /0$123  !
    !!          7    8    &!  '( 
44!!!!
        *        4      ! 
! 4   9#/ 
 !  !4 !!!  
!! ! : " ;<* :  
!=>:4!
4!!!
9/0$123!!$7!!
)!+$
1. INTRODUCTION
* 6!!2    /0$123 !!  !1!
  :  !                 
66!!1
!1!!!6
  !      !!      *  4  :    4  ! 
!              9#/?  
    "#
%"#!4!!4
page 374
Fonseca Braga, M., Romeiro Filho,
E., Mendonça, R. M. L. O., Oliveira,
R. G. L. & Pereira, H. G. G. (2020).
Design for Resilience: Mapping the
Needs of Brazilian Communities to
Tackle COVID-19 Challenges.
Strategic Design Research Journal.
Volume 13, number 03, September
– December 2020. 374-386. DOI:
10.4013/sdrj.2020.133.07
*!4!
..!
!
@
!(!!!
!
!
4.!
!
!!4!:
!4
1.1. COVID-19
/    2A $  AB23    :        4       4  :!! 
< '   !! 4 
!4>=C2DC1 !&! 
ABAB * 4!  <!'! /( <'/  22
"ABAB <'/ABAB   4!! 
!4!!6!)!!
 4 !2   6    ! 
 5  " !ABAB A! 4
!!5*!ABABE!
!   ! ABABF !  
!  (( !ABAB ;    !
!  !              !  &!    !  ABAB    
6 !1!  ! 4!4
4!!"ABAB!
  &&  ABAB  4                  
%!$ABABG
 "#ABAB
&(!5"/2=")78
    :      .!  /0$123            !? 
!!!  
+#!  % 7 8 ABAB&! '(! !H1
!I          4.        +
"!&!'(ABAB
&!'(=BBB:2FF/0$1232
8! '! )) "! )J ABAB 7 
8            4    ;KBBB  :     ==2D   
'!)78))%)J
78ABAB
page 375
Fonseca Braga, M., Romeiro Filho,
E., Mendonça, R. M. L. O., Oliveira,
R. G. L. & Pereira, H. G. G. (2020).
Design for Resilience: Mapping the
Needs of Brazilian Communities to
Tackle COVID-19 Challenges.
Strategic Design Research Journal.
Volume 13, number 03, September
– December 2020. 374-386. DOI:
10.4013/sdrj.2020.133.07
1.2. Informal-settlement communities
+!6/0$123!!!
!1! !ABAB&(! 
!!!.4H!!)&#IA
&#% AB2BHI H!!!@I  !

*!!!
      !            !    !     
(!.!!4!!
44 ! !&#% 
AB2B*!!!.4!4!4
!! !   ! !41 
! 4.4 . !!!1 !
"AB2=
'!!4 !!
  !*(   :! ?
5!!.!!!!&#%
AB2B*1!!!!AB2B
&#%AB2B 22F !!!  =  &(! ! !
  7   8        !  ! !    )&#  4  2F
!! ! K=E ! &! '( EBKBBB !! 2=3
!  *         :!  :      ABAB    4   
!   &  !.:! 5!
&#%AB2B
*!!!
          !!      !         
! ? 5!
    !    !        9!  
 H!  >I) 2333
EK3  '4      !      !!        
!4.46L
1.3. Participatory design for community resilience
7!H*!6(
(
  !   :   !             
!.I9)$7AB2=AA
H   ! 
(46!!
!             !!4    !      ! 
!I9)$7AB2=2E*

page 376
Fonseca Braga, M., Romeiro Filho,
E., Mendonça, R. M. L. O., Oliveira,
R. G. L. & Pereira, H. G. G. (2020).
Design for Resilience: Mapping the
Needs of Brazilian Communities to
Tackle COVID-19 Challenges.
Strategic Design Research Journal.
Volume 13, number 03, September
– December 2020. 374-386. DOI:
10.4013/sdrj.2020.133.07
%    !! 4   !1!    
45
6!!!!!!9)$7AB2=
"  !. !  
    6        !          6   
!!!1!!
!1        4.    !!    
!1!!!&.
!AB22
)!            1     
  4  4      !  1!
4!:!  . .!    
!        !    !      !  *
!  !      !     !    1! 
!14.
  !   &.   !  AB22G  &  M &  AB23G  )!  M  
AB22G0M&(AB2K
#!!!(
.9)$7AB2;G9)$7AB2=!
    1!!      !!?      :!  
!!!
!1!!   !!  ! 
! )? 2333! 6  ! 
44!#
$  +  #$+      !    H        
! !I2D4!! !! !!H 
! . !!1  !I 2D  !! 
 !! 1!  4!!1
!1!%AB2D
*. 23=B
!1.)!23KB
) )M)ABBDG )ABBK *  
1!!2?!.!!!!
!  )  M  )  ABBD    A         
!!4)ABBK1
    H!!         !     4!        
I:1H
!4.!I)M
)ABBD=
+ !!!  4
  .!      (  !         *
!    !    :            
!'!AB2D
page 377
Fonseca Braga, M., Romeiro Filho,
E., Mendonça, R. M. L. O., Oliveira,
R. G. L. & Pereira, H. G. G. (2020).
Design for Resilience: Mapping the
Needs of Brazilian Communities to
Tackle COVID-19 Challenges.
Strategic Design Research Journal.
Volume 13, number 03, September
– December 2020. 374-386. DOI:
10.4013/sdrj.2020.133.07
A *!!N4!!!4(
!O!!!!4
ODEG
E *!:!N4*!
.4!!.4!!
!G
F *!N!H:(
!.!!IDE:!
!
!!4!!4
+!AB2B!
  !            !    !  .
!!!64
: "  !AB2D+ !! 
!
!!                
!!       +  7 +7
'!P?)ABBK
1!!16!!1!
'!4!!14!?
 !  !!   !!  1  !
!  /%$ABAB  ABAB+  
                <  )    ' 
<)'141"!1+')
*+')*   . !AB2AG $ ! AB2E
'4   !!16! <)'1!  
4!!
2. METHODOLOGY
*  5!    6!  !   4  !  .      !!
4    "# %"# *!  %
23D3G  Q  233F  4    !  !  !  !  !  
        !   .     *  !
  4  4   !!      !        
44!!!!!4
+4!!4!!448
*!   ! 4!!!1! 
/!!4&!'(
7 8  % ! !
4!4!!
*      !!  !  !    9#/?      ? 
  .  4  4  ! 4  
        !1!        
page 378
Fonseca Braga, M., Romeiro Filho,
E., Mendonça, R. M. L. O., Oliveira,
R. G. L. & Pereira, H. G. G. (2020).
Design for Resilience: Mapping the
Needs of Brazilian Communities to
Tackle COVID-19 Challenges.
Strategic Design Research Journal.
Volume 13, number 03, September
– December 2020. 374-386. DOI:
10.4013/sdrj.2020.133.07
/0$1234!&(!4
&(!
*!4!!*
6!4
*4   
44!4
!!!  :!6! !
114!!
!
Table 1: Belo Horizonte (BH) online roundtable
Roundtable role Gender Related Community / Role
Participant 1 Male Community A / NGO representative and community member
Participant 2 Male Community A / NGO representative
Participant 3 Female Community B / Kindergarten teacher, community member and volunteer
Participant 4 Male Community B / NGO representative and community member
Mediator Female Lancaster University / Research Associate
Time moderator Male UFMG / Master student
Observer 1 Male UFMG / Professor
Observer 2 Female UEMG / Professor
Observer 3 Female UEMG / PhD candidate
Table 2: Rio de Janeiro (RJ) online roundtable
Roundtable role Gender Related Community / Role
Participant 5 Female Community C / Nurse, doula and community member
Participant 6 Female Community D / Journalist and community member
Participant 7 Male Community D / NGO representative and community member
Participant 8 Female Community D / Educational project founder and community member
Participant 9 Female Community E / Social movement representative and community member
Mediator Female Lancaster University / Research Associate
Time moderator Male UFMG / Master student
Observer 2 Female UEMG / Professor
Observer 3 Female UEMG / PhD candidate
Note: informal-settlement community E refers to an occupied building in RJ. The notes regarding this informal
settlement specifically are identified as ‘RJ (building)’ on the maps (results).
*!!4:! * 4 
  !*!   ?!. 4
!!!!
: 2    GA
GEGF;
+!4:?:
*?4!!4
1   !)<!!! 
!!!!
!!  4    6!    !    4    !    
 '4"< R'"<S 5R$%/ S )<!! R
page 379
Fonseca Braga, M., Romeiro Filho,
E., Mendonça, R. M. L. O., Oliveira,
R. G. L. & Pereira, H. G. G. (2020).
Design for Resilience: Mapping the
Needs of Brazilian Communities to
Tackle COVID-19 Challenges.
Strategic Design Research Journal.
Volume 13, number 03, September
– December 2020. 374-386. DOI:
10.4013/sdrj.2020.133.07
:"SR)$*!S;<R/R233KS
?    !!?  !  4      !  1 
6!'"<5;<!:
=!!!
:
!!  4 ! !  !
4          1!      !    1
.!!. 5
!
/:4!64
!!/0$1231!
  9#/? 4  4 
/   ! !  4    !          ). 
ABBBFF=1FFK H+!! 
 I 4  
4H!I)2333EDE
3. RESULTS
*    !4  4    !    !        
!!!49!6&!
'( 4 :4 PBH?9 !  7 8
 4 : 4 PRJ?9  !  %!
! 4 :4PRJ !? *   4  
4
Figure 1. Theme 1: news arrival - sources of information, means of communication and impact on
routine.
page 380
Fonseca Braga, M., Romeiro Filho,
E., Mendonça, R. M. L. O., Oliveira,
R. G. L. & Pereira, H. G. G. (2020).
Design for Resilience: Mapping the
Needs of Brazilian Communities to
Tackle COVID-19 Challenges.
Strategic Design Research Journal.
Volume 13, number 03, September
– December 2020. 374-386. DOI:
10.4013/sdrj.2020.133.07
Figure 2. Theme 2: prevention.
Figure 3. Theme 3: diagnosis and treatment.
Figure 4. Theme 4: support (public sector, institutions and other organisations).
page 381
Fonseca Braga, M., Romeiro Filho,
E., Mendonça, R. M. L. O., Oliveira,
R. G. L. & Pereira, H. G. G. (2020).
Design for Resilience: Mapping the
Needs of Brazilian Communities to
Tackle COVID-19 Challenges.
Strategic Design Research Journal.
Volume 13, number 03, September
– December 2020. 374-386. DOI:
10.4013/sdrj.2020.133.07
Figure 5. Areas of challenges.
(a)
(b)
Figure 6. Needs related (a) to themes 1, 2, 3 and (b) to themes 4, 5, 6.
page 382
Fonseca Braga, M., Romeiro Filho,
E., Mendonça, R. M. L. O., Oliveira,
R. G. L. & Pereira, H. G. G. (2020).
Design for Resilience: Mapping the
Needs of Brazilian Communities to
Tackle COVID-19 Challenges.
Strategic Design Research Journal.
Volume 13, number 03, September
– December 2020. 374-386. DOI:
10.4013/sdrj.2020.133.07
4. DISCUSSION
+!  ! 
1!!2
! !! !    !A  !1
    4.  !  !             
!6!*!!!
 & ! 
.      !      !!    !  1
!!
*  !    !.      !  !        !  
:    4    :             
!6     !  
!  1!  !    !         
4/0$1234
/0$123!66!!!
   !1! ! ! 
5!>:4:
*  4
16
*!
*!!4!:
*!!!!!
/0$123 
=!
*  !!        :!  !  4    
 !4!!!? P?! !!
  :!   !  /0$123    2
! !  F !
!  !? F
!.4!!!9#/
!! 4 /0$123 
  2AEF"
1!
2166A
>4E !
44! =*!
!:!'!AB2D4
!!!5!!!
2  ;  = !! !
1!!!!
page 383
Fonseca Braga, M., Romeiro Filho,
E., Mendonça, R. M. L. O., Oliveira,
R. G. L. & Pereira, H. G. G. (2020).
Design for Resilience: Mapping the
Needs of Brazilian Communities to
Tackle COVID-19 Challenges.
Strategic Design Research Journal.
Volume 13, number 03, September
– December 2020. 374-386. DOI:
10.4013/sdrj.2020.133.07
5. FUTURES RESEARCH AND LIMITATIONS
* T  
 4 !! 
!*1
!1  !        1!  !       / 
: !! : !   4 !! 
4! :!!!: 
      !!    !        !
5*!
! 6 !6 +!! 
AB2;  "    .4!     ?    !1!
              !!        
6!! !!*
!!:!! 
!    1    !!             
!!1
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
<.!!9#/?
4  4 ! !  
<!.$%!*.!+!7

ENDNOTES

 
!"#
$%
&'()"'*+
,&""-"---#&'+."--$
REFERENCES
&$UV9!1)"$+ #ABAB"2A7!
!!!4/0$123ABKKKE$/2B2B2=@)2FKE1
EB33ABEB23;1V
&!880&.&+)!ABAB!!
/0$123FF=BNFK2$/2B2BED@F2;=A1BAB1BDDF1(
&&ABAB"2F78A3ABAB
@@444.@4@!1;A==AE;=
&.+78)!$)!.$M7AB22&!
!6 E221AB$/2BEE3B@EB2BBB2
&1"M&&AB23'4!!(L4.
6!)&!"
#$$EK213$/2B2B2=@>>AB232B22KK
(("$8>!!"!ABAB*!AB23
!/0$123.%E=D=FD3E3;1FBB78A3ABAB
@@@@E=D@=FD3@E3;
page 384
Fonseca Braga, M., Romeiro Filho,
E., Mendonça, R. M. L. O., Oliveira,
R. G. L. & Pereira, H. G. G. (2020).
Design for Resilience: Mapping the
Needs of Brazilian Communities to
Tackle COVID-19 Challenges.
Strategic Design Research Journal.
Volume 13, number 03, September
– December 2020. 374-386. DOI:
10.4013/sdrj.2020.133.07
80!$"&!ABAB)!'!/0$123<!!1
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$78&<41" AB2E$!
+')*!!1!
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3;=21B
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$/2B22KK@BB2DKABD2;;KBEKF
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F=3KES7!EBABAB@@>@23@!@
page 385
Fonseca Braga, M., Romeiro Filho,
E., Mendonça, R. M. L. O., Oliveira,
R. G. L. & Pereira, H. G. G. (2020).
Design for Resilience: Mapping the
Needs of Brazilian Communities to
Tackle COVID-19 Challenges.
Strategic Design Research Journal.
Volume 13, number 03, September
– December 2020. 374-386. DOI:
10.4013/sdrj.2020.133.07
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... Policies that provide access to basic and key services (i.e. health, education, etc), which are harder for disadvantaged communities to attain have not addressed the digital divide (Fonseca Braga et al., 2020, 2021. Moreover, tackling the pandemic requires a global effort in science and technology development, economic and social cooperation as well as coordination. ...
... Conversations encompassed: sources of information, communication means and impacts on routine; prevention; diagnosis and treatment; support, and change. The analysis of these conversations was conducted through design methods such as affinity and mind mapping (for details about these please see Fonseca Braga et al., 2020;Fonseca Braga et al., 2021) that identified and synthesised communities' problems, adaptive strategies, needs and the related areas of challenges regarding each topic through crossreference. Finally, maps showing communities' problems, challenges, adaptative strategies and needs and their interrelations during and beyond the pandemic were made and validated with participants through a third roundtable that enabled reflection, further discussion, and sense-making in a participatory process (please see Fonseca Braga et al., 2020 for further information on these specific maps). ...
... This paper expands into key design capabilities that were not addressed in prior related work (Fonseca Braga et al., 2020;Fonseca Braga et al., 2021) and that we consider crucial to supporting the 'making' of dialogic practices and policies necessary to build or enhance community resilience. We understand that informal-settlement communities have been playing a critical role in mitigating the pandemic impacts in their territories. ...
... It should also identify, engage, and strengthen the capacity of local communities to learn from local vulnerabilities, social risks, and impacts of disasters and transform positively towards improving community welfare [64]. The local community must design mitigation in COVID-19 to define its problems, challenges, and adaptation funds to mitigate COVID-19, and build community resilience [65]. ...
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