Institute for Socioeconomic Studies (INESC)
The Institute for Socioeconomic Studies (INESC) is a Brazil-based left-of-center advocacy group involved in promoting left-of-center social and environmental policies. The group claims that it seeks to “improve democratic processes, strengthen citizens and popular movements, and combat all forms of oppression, inequality and prejudice,” as well as interpret the government budget for popular consumption. 1
Contents
The Ford Foundation approved $2,750,000 in grants to the Institute for Socioeconomic Studies between 2007 and 2025; in 2024 and 2025, the grants were given with the description, “General support for monitoring public budget in favor of social justice and tackling inequalities.” 2
Background
The Institute for Socioeconomic Studies is a left-of-center Brazil-based nonprofit that advocates on social and environmental issues. According to the group, part of its mission is to “combat all forms of oppression, inequality and prejudice.” One of INESC’s primary activities is interpreting Brazil’s public budget for popular consumption. The group claims that it seeks to “improve democratic processes, strengthen citizens and popular movements, and combat all forms of oppression, inequality and prejudice.” 1
INESC advocates for policy changes to address the “under-representation of women, black people, indigenous peoples, workers, and LGBT+ in positions of power. Today power is based among the white, male, wealthy, hetero, and the Christian, who do not represent the majority of the Brazilian people.” 3
Activities
The Institute for Socioeconomic Studies runs a campaign called “Believe it when I see it,” which it claims is aimed at advocating for greater transparency in the granting of tax exemptions by Brazil’s federal government. The group claims that tax exemptions in Brazil total R$300 billion (approximately $55 billion USD) annually. 4
INESC and the Malala Fund Activist Network for Education ran a social media campaign called “And Outside stories? How is Education going?,” which sought to gather student support for a petition that would increase government funding for education. 5
INESC runs an energy campaign, which advocates for greater transparency in the process of granting subsidies for conventional energy production. INESC asserts that Brazil’s fossil fuel subsidies equate to roughly one percent of Brazil’s GDP, or R$68 billion (approximately $12.5 billion USD) per year. 6
INESC supports what it claims is an anti-racism campaign run by Projeto Onda entitled “Why not love?” 7
Between 2016 and 2018, INESC helped run a project called “Hub das Pretas” along with Fase, Ibase, Criola, Ação Educativa. and Oxfam Brazil. According to INESC, Hub das Pretas, or “The Young Black Women Empowered Against Racism and Sexism,” was an antiracism initiative that was eventually turned into a web series called “Sonho de Preta Conta.” 8
Funding
Between 2007 and 2025, the Ford Foundation approved $2,750,000 in grants to the Institute for Socioeconomic Studies. The Ford Foundation’s grants to INESC in 2024 and 2025 were given the description, “General support for monitoring public budget in favor of social justice and tackling inequalities.” 2
People
As of 2025, Ana Paula Felipe was listed as the financial, administrative, and personnel manager for the Institute for Socioeconomic Studies. She began working for INESC in 2004. 9
As of 2025, Ana Paula Felipe, Cristiane da Silva Ribeiro, Jose Antonio Moroni, and Nathalie Beghin made up the management board of INESC. 9