Políticas públicas de desenvolvimento regional no Ceará: uma avaliação do Projeto São José na Região do Sertão dos Inhamuns, Estado do Ceará

Abstract

This dissertation evaluates public policies for regional development in the semi-arid region of Ceará, focusing on the evaluation of the São José Project in the Sertão dos Inhamuns region, in light of Sustainability-Based Policy Evaluation (SBE). It starts from the understanding that climate vulnerability in the semi-arid region is a structural and historically produced condition, resulting from the interaction between environmental, social, economic, and institutional factors. The theoretical framework articulates contributions from territorial development, environmental law, and sustainability, incorporating the paradigm of coexistence with the semi-arid region as an alternative to traditional drought control policies. From the perspective of the Socio-Environmental State of Law, sustainability is understood as a structuring legal principle and an intergenerational duty, guiding the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of public policies. The theoretical approach recognizes the multidimensionality of the environment, considering its natural, artificial, cultural, and labor dimensions, and problematizes the limits of normative discourses on sustainability in the face of contemporary production and consumption patterns. Methodologically, the research adopts a qualitative approach, using bibliographic and documentary methods, and secondary data, allowing for the evaluation of the policy's internal coherence, its territorial impacts, and its contribution to reducing climate vulnerability and strengthening community resilience. To systematize and interpret the collected data, the research uses the content analysis technique proposed by Laurence Bardin, especially from the stages of pre-analysis, material exploration, and results treatment. The results of the analysis show that the São José Project contributes to strengthening the social and productive inclusion of rural populations in the Sertão dos Inhamuns region, expanding access to water, sanitation, technical assistance, and income-generating opportunities. Furthermore, the strengthening of local capacities and community participation was verified through support for rural associations and organizations, favoring territorial governance processes and social control. In the environmental dimension, the project demonstrates potential to reduce vulnerabilities associated with water scarcity and climate change by encouraging productive practices compatible with semi-arid conditions and strategies for coping with drought. From a political-institutional perspective, the consolidation of participatory management mechanisms and articulation between different public and community actors was observed, contributing to greater effectiveness of regional development actions. Despite the identified advances, challenges persist related to the continuity of public policies, the monitoring of long-term results, and addressing the socio-environmental inequalities historically present in the region. It is concluded that territorialized policies oriented towards sustainability have greater potential to promote lasting, socially just, and environmentally balanced regional development in the semi-arid region of Ceará.