Support Consumer Protection: Public Sector

closed

This technical cooperation (TC) grant seeks to broaden consumer participation in the privatization of the public utilities sectors, such as water, electricity and telecommunications, as well as in the monitoring and control of the provision of these basic services. The TC has four components: (a) evaluation of the regulatory frameworks of the public utilities sectors in the states of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Paraná, to include a workshop and initial preparation of the action plans; (b) preparation and implementation of the action plans by the project coordination team (PCT), which will also monitor and evaluate the services provided (in term, of quality/price ratio, level of consumer satisfaction, and geographic coverage of the different services); (c) training for consumer associations through workshops and seminars open to other Brazilian states as well as the three selected; and (d) a public information campaign promoting consumer rights, rational utility use, and sustained consumption, through educational television and radio programs, Consumer S.A. magazine, booklets and brochures, the Internet, primary and secondary school teacher workshops, and a national seminar.