CEP Digital: Bringing Addresses and Inclusion to Brazilian Favelas

In Brazil, over 16 million people reside in favelas, most of which lack a formal postal code (CEP). This absence of addresses creates significant barriers, limiting access to essential services like deliveries, emergency medical assistance, and credit. Despite a thriving e-commerce market in Brazil, many peripheral and rural areas remain underserved due to a lack of logistical structure or adequate mapping. Even with these challenges, 61% of consumers in favelas already shop online, highlighting a significant demand that traditional delivery companies often fail to meet.

naPorta, Brazil's first social impact logtech, specializes in connecting e-commerce to difficult-to-access territories such as favelas, rural, and riverside areas, ensuring safe and efficient deliveries directly to homes. Recognizing the critical need for formal addressing, naPorta partnered with Google to implement Plus Codes, an innovative solution dubbed "CEP Digital" (Digital ZIP Code).

The CEP Digital initiative aims to transform "invisible territories" into accessible ones by inserting them onto the map, generating functional digital addresses, and unlocking access to citizenship, the market, and the future. The adoption model is collaborative and community-rooted:

• Local Mappers: naPorta trains and works with local residents as mappers. These individuals possess intimate knowledge of their communities, including every alley, house, and reference point.

• Community Partnerships: The initiative partners with community NGOs to strengthen ties within the community and build trust in the process.

• Technological Support: A dedicated technology team cross-references, validates, and refines collected data both remotely and in person.

This collaborative approach ensures that the mapping effort is conducted by those who truly understand the territory, promoting accuracy and community engagement.

The CEP Digital project has already significantly impacted previously overlooked territories. In a short period, over 80,000 people gained a functional address, enabling them to access services, make online purchases, receive emergency aid, and be recognized on official maps. naPorta has mapped 55 entire favelas in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, from Vidigal to Nova Poá, transforming realities with the support of local mappers, community leaders, and grassroots organizations. This initiative ensures the presence and protagonism of those traditionally excluded from urban planning calculations.

naPorta's efforts have been recognized internationally, being named finalists in the Dubai International Award for Best Practices among the world's best urban solutions. The impact continues to expand, with operations already in Minas Gerais and plans to extend to Salvador and Maceió. This expansion will further broaden their reach and address the significant demand for digital inclusion, logistics, and citizenship in these regions. For every CEP created, naPorta opens doors and puts stories on the map, signifying an impact that extends beyond mere numbers.