Núcleo de Estudos da Violência da Universidade de São Paulo (NEV-USP)

What Núcleo de Estudos da Violência da Universidade de São Paulo (NEV-USP) does

Núcleo de Estudos da Violência da Universidade de São Paulo (NEV-USP) is an academic research center founded in 1987 by Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro and Sérgio Adorno at the University of São Paulo, specializing in violence studies, human rights monitoring, and public security policy analysis. The center operates as a portfolio of interconnected research initiatives rather than a commercial platform, anchored by five core offerings: (1) PODHE (Observatório de Direitos Humanos em Escolas), an in-school human rights education program operating in São Paulo public schools through teacher training, student workshops, and conflict mediation; (2) Academic publications including 88 outputs in the June 2024–July 2025 period spanning books, journal articles, and technical reports on urban violence, organized crime, children's rights, and public security; (3) Police training courses delivered to public security institutions; (4) A comprehensive data and maps archive covering homicides, drug trafficking, robberies, police interventions, and socioeconomic indicators; and (5) International conferences, seminars, and events for knowledge dissemination. The underlying technology stack relies on statistical analysis, data mapping, and qualitative research methodologies, with the award-winning Monitor de Violência homicide monitoring system recognized with the 2018 Data Journalism Awards.

NEV-USP generates no commercial revenue. The center is funded primarily through FAPESP research grants — including the long-running CEPID-FAPESP "Building Democracy Daily" program — supplemented by São Paulo state government contracts, UNICEF-coordinated committees, and German BMZ cooperation funds. The organization serves five primary segments: public security institutions requiring evidence-based training and human rights compliance frameworks; educational institutions needing child protection and human rights education; federal, state, and municipal government agencies commissioning policy analysis and international compliance reporting; the academic and research community; and civil society organizations working on violence prevention and human rights advocacy. The center is a WHO/PAHO Collaborating Centre since 2002 and a member of the WHO Violence Prevention Alliance since 2013, and produces reports for the UN on Brazil's compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. NEV-USP does not pursue commercial customers; its GTM is academic dissemination through publications, events, media, and direct institutional training partnerships.

Name

Núcleo de Estudos da Violência da Universidade de São Paulo (NEV-USP)

Legal name

Núcleo de Estudos da Violência da Universidade de São Paulo

Website

https://nev.prp.usp.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NEV-USP is an academic research center at the University of São Paulo, founded in 1987, that studies violence, human rights, and public security policy. It serves government agencies, police, schools, and civil society through research, training, and data monitoring funded primarily by FAPESP grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Research Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Rights Monitoring, Documentation & Advocacy (BPADAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Security Sector Governance & Police Reform (BPADAGAI), Safeguarding, Accountability & Compliance (ESG, Gender/GBV, Do No Harm) (BPADAEAM)

Keywords

• Violence research
• Human rights monitoring
• Public security policy
• Police training programs
• Academic research services

Headquarters

HQ city

São Paulo

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NEV-USP is an academic research center that produces evidence-based research on violence, democracy, human rights, and public security, including academic publications (books, journal articles, technical reports), a multi-decade data and maps archive on violence indicators, professional training courses for police officers, and dedicated projects such as PODHE (Human Rights Observatory in Schools) and the Prison System Monitor. Its outputs are directed at government agencies, public security institutions, educational networks, civil society, and the academic community, supported by FAPESP research grants and partnerships with the UN, WHO/PAHO, UNICEF, and other international bodies.

Product overview

NEV-USP is an academic research center at the University of São Paulo focused on violence studies, human rights, democracy, and public security research. The center operates as a portfolio of interconnected research initiatives rather than a commercial product platform. Core offerings include: (1) PODHE - an observatory project working in schools on human rights education; (2) Academic publications including books, journal articles, and technical reports on violence and security topics; (3) Professional training courses for police and security personnel; (4) A comprehensive data archive with maps and statistics on violence indicators and socioeconomic factors; and (5) International events and seminars for knowledge dissemination. The center's research covers human rights education, urban violence, public security policies, criminal governance, children's rights, and police violence monitoring.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PODHE: Projeto Observatório de Direitos Humanos em Escolas (PODHE) - a project that works in public schools through continuous teacher training, student workshops, didactic sequence construction, conflict mediation, and strengthening student participation, linking university, territory, and human rights education.

Products and services

• PODHE — Projeto Observatório de Direitos Humanos em Escolas A school-based human rights education project operating in São Paulo state public schools through continuous teacher training, student workshops, didactic sequence construction, conflict mediation, and student participation strengthening. It is delivered in partnership with SEDUC-SP via the PROEDUCA program and targets educators, students, and school administrators.
• Publicações Acadêmicas (Academic Publications) Extensive collection of academic publications covering urban violence, public security, organized crime, children's and adolescents' rights, and criminal governance, including books, book chapters, journal articles, and technical productions. Targeted at the academic and research community, policymakers, and civil society.
• Cursos para Policiais (Police Training Courses) Professional training and development courses designed for police officers and public security professionals, focusing on human rights, conflict mediation, and contemporary security challenges. Targeted at Brazilian police forces, military police, and public security agencies.
• Acervo de Dados e Mapas (Data and Maps Archive) Comprehensive archive containing maps and data on violence-related topics — homicides, drug trafficking, robberies, police killings, urban violence — along with socioeconomic indicators (population, health, education, sanitation, income). Serves researchers, journalists, government agencies, and civil society organizations.
• Eventos Acadêmicos (Academic Events and Seminars) International and national conferences, seminars, workshops, and academic events covering democracy, human rights, violence, public security, organized crime, torture prevention, and transitional justice. Targeted at academics, policymakers, civil society, and the general public.
• Monitor do Sistema Prisional (Prison System Monitor) Prison system monitoring initiative tracking incarceration data and prison conditions in Brazil. Produces periodic reports (e.g., Monitor do Sistema Prisional 2026) for use by policymakers, human rights bodies, and researchers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Monitor de Violência won Data Journalism Awards 2018 for innovative homicide monitoring in Brazil

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• Secretaria de Direitos Humanos da Universidade de Brasília (SDH/UnB)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Institutional visit and collaboration between PODHE project researchers and SDH/UnB focusing on human rights education, university extension, democratic management, student retention, and articulation between university and territory.
• ONU - Comissão Internacional Independente de Inquérito sobre a República Árabe da SíriacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2011NEV-USP co-founder Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro served as President of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic since its creation in 2011 until June 2026. The Commission produces reports, investigations, and recommendations on human rights violations in Syria.
• OPAS/OMS - Organização Pan-Americana da Saúde/Organização Mundial da SaúdecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002NEV-USP serves as a WHO Collaborating Centre since 2002, contributing to international violence prevention efforts and public health policy development. Also a member of the WHO Violence Prevention Alliance since 2013.
• UNICEF - Comitê Paulista de Prevenção a Homicídios na AdolescênciasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEV-USP participates in the São Paulo Committee for Adolescent Homicide Prevention, coordinated with UNICEF support, addressing violence affecting youth in São Paulo state.
• Rede Brasileira de Educação em Direitos Humanos (ReBEDH)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEV-USP participates in the Brazilian Human Rights Education Network, contributing to human rights education initiatives and policy development.
• Coalizão Brasileira para o Fim da Violência Contra Crianças e AdolescentessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEV-USP contributes to the Brazilian Coalition to End Violence Against Children and Adolescents, supporting policy advocacy and prevention programs.
• Comissão de Defesa dos Direitos Humanos Dom Paulo Evaristo ArnssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEV-USP collaborates with this human rights commission dedicated to monitoring and defending human rights in Brazil.
• Programa Estadual de Proteção a Vítimas e Testemunhas (Provita)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with São Paulo state's witness and victim protection program, contributing research and expertise on violence and protection measures.
• ONU - Produção de Relatórios sobre o Pacto dos Direitos Civis e PolíticoscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEV-USP produces reports for the United Nations on Brazil's compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
• Associação Internacional de Sociologia (ISA) e Associação Europeia de Sociologia (ESA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEV-USP maintains institutional affiliations with major international sociology associations, facilitating academic exchange and collaborative research.
• Secretaria da Educação do Estado de São Paulo (SEDUC-SP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through PROEDUCA program for the PODHE project, involving teacher training and human rights education in public schools throughout São Paulo state.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA): US-based research and advocacy organization on Latin American policy. Comparable as a producer of evidence-based analysis on citizen security, policing, and human rights across Latin America.
• International Crisis Group: Global conflict prevention think tank producing field-based research on violence, organized crime, and state responses. Comparable in producing rigorous field research on violence and policy recommendations for governments and multilaterals.

Direct peers

• Viva Rio: Brazilian NGO working on public security, violence prevention, and arms control. Comparable focus on urban violence, police reform, and human rights-based policy responses in Rio de Janeiro and Brazil.
• Instituto Sou da Paz: São Paulo-based NGO focused on public security, gun control, and police accountability. Comparable as a São Paulo-anchored organization producing evidence-based research and advocacy on violence reduction.
• Conectas Direitos Humanos: Brazilian human rights organization conducting research and advocacy on public security, police violence, and institutional accountability. Comparable as a research-driven NGO producing reports for UN mechanisms.
• Igarapé Institute: Brazilian think tank focused on security, drug policy, and climate security. Comparable as a research-driven organization producing policy analysis on violence, public security, and institutional reform in Brazil and Latin America.
• Centro de Estudos Legales y Sociales (CELS): Argentine human rights and social research organization. Comparable as a Latin American academic-advocacy hybrid producing research on policing, institutional violence, and human rights accountability.
• Fórum Brasileiro de Segurança Pública (FBSP): Brazil's leading civil society forum on public security, producing annual violence statistics and policy research. Directly comparable as a national reference on violence data, public security indicators, and policy advocacy in Brazil.

Others

• UNICEF Brazil: UN agency working on violence against children and adolescents in Brazil. Comparable as a partner/adjacent organization working on child rights, adolescent homicide prevention, and violence monitoring that overlaps with NEV-USP's PODHE and child rights research.
• FAPESP (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo): São Paulo state research funding foundation that finances NEV-USP's CEPID program. Comparable as a key funding and institutional partner rather than a competitor, but central to NEV-USP's operating model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/podhe.nev
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nevusp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Núcleo de Estudos da Violência da Universidade de São Paulo (NEV-USP)