Goiânia's Autonomy Programs Accelerate School and Health Funding

The municipality of Goiânia, Brazil, has rolled out two financial autonomy schemes – Pafie for education and Pafus for health – that give individual schools, childcare centers and health units direct control over public money. Under Law No. 11623/2026, the mayor Sandro Mabel says the programmes cut bureaucracy, allowing each unit to decide weekly priorities for building maintenance, supplies, cleaning and minor repairs.

In 2025 the city transferred R$ 222 million to 376 educational units, and in the first four months of 2026 an additional R$ 107.4 million was disbursed. More than 200 schools are currently using the funds for immediate interventions. The health‑sector program mirrors the education model, providing similar cash flow to municipal health posts.

Program oversight is handled by local committees that include municipal staff, managers and community representatives, ensuring transparency and democratic use of the resources. Secretary of Education Giselle Faria highlighted the impact on learning conditions and the overall quality of public services.