This paper draws on a pilot study insight into Brazilian informal-settlement communities’ problems, adaptative strategies and needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although communities play a noteworthy role in resilience, emergency and recovery plans often lack sufficient community engagement. This contributes to leaving particularly disadvantaged communities behind. Inequalities were further exacerbated during the pandemic, urging the deployment of plural and sustainable measures, which can promote equity in a global health crisis. Design can play a meaningful role in tackling inequalities in emergency and recovery. However, this role of design is still under-researched in resilience. We expand on related work analyses to draw on key design capabilities for the development of dialogic practices and policies aiming to contribute to designing effective participation of communities in decision-making processes. These key design capabilities support the development of dialogic design practices and policies by enhancing and supporting collaboration and communication throughout policy co-design.