Research on Afro-Brazilian Leadership in the Brazilian Public Sector

Unveiled in March 2025 by Afro-Cebrap with the support of the Lemann Foundation and Imaginable Futures, the groundbreaking research report “Afro-Brazilian Leadership in the Brazilian Public Sector (1995–2024)” delivers the first systematic analysis of Afro-Brazilian representation in senior leadership across the Federal Executive Branch.

The study combines an analysis of administrative data from the Integrated Personnel Administration System (SIAPE) with interviews conducted with Afro-Brazilian leaders who have held strategic positions in the public sector, making it possible to understand their career trajectories, barriers, and retention strategies.

The findings highlight some progress alongside persistent structural gaps. Representation of Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous professionals in senior appointed roles rose from 22% in 1999 to 39% in 2024, while White men still continue to hold around 35% of key leadership roles, disproportionately concentrated in ministries with greater decision-making power.