Cabo Verde

Publications

Situation and Priorities

Social protection situation

Cabo Verde has made significant efforts to improve its social protection system: social insurance covers all branches and registered a coverage rate of 42% in 2017. Although this value is high for the region, the government is focused on expanding coverage by linking it to the formalization of the economy. Health coverage is near-universal and available for all residents, through contributory and non-contributory means.

In social assistance (SA), the Social Pension is the most consolidated benefit, having been paid regularly for more than 10 years through the State Budget to about half the people over the age of 60. The Government decided to proceed with the creation of a reference management tool - the Single Social Registry after several diagnoses found that the extensive and uncoordinated SA programmes would hinder the development of a sustainable social protection floor. This new tool has helped support the implementation of a new cash transfer for poor families.
 

COVID-19 and other crises

Cabo Verde was able to respond quickly to the effects of COVID-19, in large part thanks to the previous work they had done, in partnership with UN Agencies, to create the single social registry and improve the delivery method of all social assistance programmes. Since 2016, they have moved to delocalize implementation, with central authorities working in tandem with local municipalities to improve identification and administration.

A solidarity grant was established for informal economy workers and workers earning under 200 euros a month, providing a one-time payment of 90 euros to 30,000 beneficiaries. Existing cash transfer programmes were extended to approximately 3000 households, providing a monthly income of 50 euro, and food assistance was provided for 22500 households. Additionally, unemployment benefits were extended and eligibility requirements were reduced. Overall, COVID reinforced the importance of social protection in responding to crises for government and social partners.

Government and social partner priorities
  • Ensuring that the social protection system is even more prepared for future shocks - economic, natural, or health - has emerged as a government priority in light of COVID-19.
  • Improving the harmonization of the social assistance programmes, through reinforcing the Single Social Registry with improved management information systems.
  • Formalize workers in the informal economy by expanding coverage of social insurance.

ILO Projects and Programmes

Results

  • In 2016, the ILO provided technical advice for the development of the Action Plan for the implementation of the Single Social Registry. (as a result of the work done during 2013-2015) The SSR was enacted in 2018 with ILO support, including the training of 100 officials on its use.
  • The ILO supported the reinforcement of the National Centre for Social Pensions, helping improve coverage of the social pension, supporting the design and implementation of (i) the new cash transfer programme for poor families, and (ii) a new benefit for immigrants in the diaspora, and supporting the restructuration of the external evacuation services for people not covered by social insurance.
  • The ILO, through an employment creation project, supported the preparation of the national strategy for the transition to formalization, provided contributions to the National employment plan, and contributed to the post-crisis needs assessment conducted post-COVID-19.

Workspaces

Multimedia

ILO Experts

IMG
Dramane Batchabi
Specialist, Social Protection
IMG
Nuno Castro
Social Protection Activity Coordinator - ACTION/Portugal Project
IMG
Fernando Sousa Jr.
Technical Officer, Social Protection