How does a major city in a poorer country grow, and how can its squatter settlements be improved?
A case study of a major city in an LIC or NEE: its location and importance, the causes of growth, the opportunities and challenges of growth, and how squatter settlements can be improved.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Geography 3.2.1, using Rio de Janeiro as a case study of a major city in an NEE, covering its growth, opportunities, challenges and how the Favela Bairro Project improves squatter settlements.
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What this dot point is asking
This is AQA GCSE Geography (8035) Paper 2, Section A (3.2.1 Urban issues and challenges). AQA expects a detailed case study of a major city in a lower-income or newly emerging country: where it is and why it matters, how migration and natural increase have made it grow, the social, economic and environmental opportunities and challenges this growth creates, and a named scheme that improves the quality of life in its squatter settlements.
Location and importance of Rio de Janeiro
Causes of growth, opportunities and challenges
Rio has grown rapidly through rural-urban migration (people moving from poorer rural areas such as the north-east of Brazil, seeking jobs and services) and natural increase (young migrants having children). This growth brings opportunities: industrial and service jobs in the port, manufacturing and tourism, better education and health care than in rural areas, reliable services such as electricity and water in the formal city, and a rich cultural life (Carnival, football, music). These opportunities are exactly why migrants keep arriving despite the difficulties.
Managing the challenges
To improve life in the favelas, Rio used the Favela Bairro Project, a site-and-services and self-help upgrading scheme. Rather than demolishing the favelas, it upgraded them in place: it paved roads and added street lighting (improving access and safety), installed sanitation and clean water (reducing disease), connected electricity, and built health and education services. Residents also gained legal land ownership, giving them security and a stake in maintaining their homes. The scheme raised the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of people and is seen as a model of upgrading, though it was costly, did not reach every favela, and some upgraded areas later suffered from poor maintenance and continued crime.
Try this
Q1. Explain why Rio de Janeiro is important within Brazil and internationally. [4 marks]
- Cue. Nationally a centre of industry, finance and tourism; internationally a port, tourist destination and Olympic host.
Q2. Explain how a named scheme has improved squatter settlements. [4 marks]
- Cue. The Favela Bairro Project added paved roads, sanitation, electricity and services, raising residents' quality of life.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of AQA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
AQA 20186 marksUsing a case study of a major city in an LIC or NEE, explain the challenges created by rapid urban growth. (Paper 2, Section A)Show worked answer →
A 6-mark question from Paper 2 Section A (Urban issues and challenges), assessing AO1 and AO2, anchored to a named city such as Rio de Janeiro. Markers reward specific, developed challenges, not a generic list.
Award credit for naming Rio and developing challenges: around a fifth of people live in favelas (squatter settlements) built on steep, unstable hillsides at risk of landslides; crime rates are high; sanitation and clean water supply are inadequate, spreading disease; electricity is unreliable and sometimes illegally tapped; traffic congestion is severe; and industry pollutes the air and Guanabara Bay. The lift to 6 marks is to explain why each challenge arises from rapid growth (too many people too fast for housing and services), with specific Rio detail.
AQA 20226 marksUsing a named example, assess how effective a scheme has been in improving conditions in squatter settlements. (Paper 2, Section A)Show worked answer →
A 6-mark question assessing AO1, AO2 and AO3, anchored to a named scheme. "Assess how effective" needs a judgement on the scheme's success.
Award credit for naming the Favela Bairro Project in Rio. Explain what it did: rather than demolishing the favelas, it upgraded them in place by paving roads, installing sanitation, clean water and electricity, building health and education services, and giving residents legal land ownership. Then evaluate: it improved the quality of life and the status of hundreds of thousands of residents, but it was expensive, did not reach every favela, and some upgraded areas later lacked maintenance and still faced crime. Reach a judgement: the scheme was largely effective and a model of upgrading, but partial and costly. Markers reward the named scheme and a clear verdict.
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Sources & how we know this
- AQA GCSE Geography (8035) specification — AQA (2016)