UN recommends Cape Verde capacity building and priorities

“ O strengthening national capabilities for the implementation of initiatives with the United Nations is a pressing need and should be the main recommendation in the design of the next cooperation framework”, reads in the Organisation’s Annual Results Report 2025.

The document fits this need in a context marked by global shocks, rising food prices, the effects of tropical storm Erin and the reclassification of Cape Verde as a medium-high income country, which implies less access to concessional funding.

In this context, the United Nations (UN) has adapted its approach, moving from a logic focused on assistance for investment, innovative partnerships, south-south cooperation and private sector involvement.

For 2026, the United Nations System focuses on three priority areas – local development, blue economy and digital transformation – and also maintaining the eradication of extreme poverty among priorities.

In the area of local development, the UN aims to support a coordinated approach between different levels of governance, including strengthening municipal governance, economic inclusion and resilience of communities, as well as planning and data systems.

The UN also aims to improve the provision of services at local level and to create economic opportunities, especially for young people and informal workers.

In the blue economy, intervention focuses on sustainable growth, job creation and strengthening resilience to climate change, with measures such as sustainable transformation of the fisheries sector, improved processing and access to regional markets and enhanced data systems and quality control.

The UN also plans to support blue economy infrastructure, coastal protection, marine conservation, the circular economy and the link between tourism and local production.

In digital transformation, the objective is to strengthen the use of technologies as a development accelerator through a joint digital program focusing on areas such as health, education and governance.

The eradication of extreme poverty will continue to be a priority, with the creation of a specific mechanism “Letting No One Back” to monitor developments, in addition to the extension of rapid response municipal funds.

The UN also plans to strengthen support for social protection institutions and focus on the most vulnerable populations, such as women, children, young people and people with disabilities.

The report indicates that Cape Verde will have to adapt its financing strategies to the new status of middle-income countries, and the UN points to a financing strategy based on combined models and partnerships with development banks.

In 2025, among the main results achieved with the support of the United Nations, the report highlights the elimination of measles and rubella, the response to tropical storm Erin, the expansion of digital and inclusive learning and the strengthening of social protection, with the Single Social Register reaching 64% of the population.

The document also highlights support for 40 companies led by young people, 45% of which by women, which allowed the creation of 65 jobs, advances in the protection of children, with 99% of civil registration coverage, the modernization of justice, maritime security and the blue economy.

In 2025, USD 16.8 million (about EUR 14.45 million) was mobilised and some USD 14 million (about EUR 12.04 million) was executed, according to the report.

In the same year, the UN framework for cooperation with Cape Verde for the period 2023-2027 had an implementation rate of 83.4%, “the highest since the beginning” of the implementation of the framework.