Situation et prioritiés

Situation de la protection sociale

Cabo Verde has made significant efforts to improve its social protection system: social insurance covers all branches and registered a coverage rate of 51.5% in 2020. Although this value is high for the region, the Government is focused on eradicating extreme poverty by 2026 through a national strategy (2022-2026) and 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 69.8% (2020) of people over the age of 60. In 2023, the Social Pension was enlarged to more than 3,000 people, reaching to 26,000 beneficiaries. To improve the families’ income revenue and reduce the poverty level, in 2020 it was created the Social Inclusion Income (RSI). 1,086 extremely poor householders, in particular those who have minors in charge, received his cash transfer for a time frame of two years. The Single Social Registry (CSU) - the management tool the Government has decided to create- is fully in place. This new tool has helped support the implementation of a new cash transfer for the poorest and most vulnerable families. The Government considers the CSU as the single gateway to all social benefits.

In the contributory scheme, there has been developed institutional capacity to allow the responsible national institution to develop the necessary measures to extend social protection coverage, notably to conduct actuarial studies. Regarding the workers who are not registered in the Social Security system or stopped contributing, a study was carried out to identify the factors that make it difficult to increase Social Security enrolment and contributions. As a result, measures will be launched to tackle the difficulties identified.

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, namely 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 all the 22 local municipalities to improve identification and administration.

A solidarity grant (RSO) 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 3,000 households, providing a monthly income of 50 euro, and food assistance was provided for 22,500 households. During the pandemic crisis, the Government has launched RSI-Emergencial. This benefit was an additional social protection measure to respond to the loss of income due to the COVID-19 suffered by around 14 thousand of the poorest families. 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.

Priorités du gouvernement

• 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.
• Commit, with the support of all development partners, to eradicate extreme poverty by 2026.

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