Some of the goals of the program were to continue to improve systems for clean water distribution and grey water drainage, as well as resurface roads, install street lights, create recreational green areas and construct centers for social services.

Land titling, education and healthcare were also areas in need of improvement that were marked in the campaign.

The program's implementation started with the Instituto de Arquitetos do Brasil - IAB, a group involved with the Morar Carioca program, holding a design competition in 2010 during which it accepted sample upgrade designs from over eighty international architecture firms.

The IAB selected forty winning firms, assigning them groups of favelas to conceive upgrades for according to their specific characteristics.