The new UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNCF) 2023-2027 was developed through a comprehensive and inclusive process that involved the Cabo Verdean Government and all UN Agencies operating in the country. Over a period of 10 months, a collaborative effort was made to construct the UNCF, with simultaneous support from the UN for the new national development plan (PEDS II, 2022-2026).

Preparation

In 2021, the UNCT undergoes a SDG Leadership Lab, a four-month capacity building programme aimed at improving the way UNCT  operates and interacts in order to foster among Agencies. This was done to align with the UN reform and the new generation of UNCFs, which requires the UNCT to achieve transformative results by working together in a few catalytical national priorities. The learnings from the SDG Leadership Lab were  integrated into the process of building the new UNCF in 2022.

The process: analytical inputs

Using a system thinking approach to co-create the new UNCF, the process started by an analytical phase to identify the  critical inputs that would serve as the key building block:

• Lessons learnt and good / success practices coming from the UNDAF 2018-2022 evaluation;
• Causes of the country current situation and their implications through a UN system’s independent, impartial, and collective assessment – the updated UN Country Common Assessment (CCA);
• A specific human-rights based approach assessment identifying WHO is at risk of being left behind (9 groups were identified as the most vulnerable  populations), WHY do they suffer several Human Rights deprivations, and HOW can policies, plans and budgets better foster their full access to their human rights – the LNOB assessment. These analysis and recommendations were used to inform the theory of  change for both the PEDS II (new national development strategy) and the UNCF.

The process: Future-proof new UNCF to navigate current and future global crisis

Given the recurrent multiple crises of the past few years, it was essential to ensure that the new UNCF and PEDS II were “future-proof.” To achieve this,  an innovative Foresight Exercise was conducted by the UN and the Government. The exercise was aimed at identifying possible scenarios and pathways, as many possible futures are possible in these times of disruptions. Representatives from the Government, civil society, private sector, and academia were involved in providing inputs in the forms of assets, assumptions, risks, opportunities, and development solutions and pathways. The risk-informed analysis and prioritization were at the heart of both plans.

The process: Participatory Events

Various participatory events were held to collectively develop the new UNCF, highlighting the UNCT retreat in February that identified the three strategic areas with the presence of various UN Agencies’ regional directors, several internal meetings and workshops with partners building the Result  Framework (vision, strategic areas, outcomes, outputs, indicators), and the final validation workshop in September with over 100 participants. The new UNCF was signed during the UN Day 2022 celebrations in October, with the community of “Ribeira da Barca” present, and the Prime Minister of Cabo Verde and all partners in attendance. On October 26, the President of the Republic of Cabo Verde visited the UN house, and another activity was held in  December, where the UNCT presented the new UNCF in the second-largest city of the country, Mindelo.

Additional Agencies and Partnership

Based on the new UNCF priority areas, four specialized UN Agencies – ITU, UNECA, WFP, and WIPO – with sound and extensive experience in those priorities were contacted, informed, motivated to participate in the UNCF building, and finally joined the UNCT to sign the new UNCF, together with the  World Bank.

The way forward

The UNCT is committed to achieving better impact results in the years ahead, and the new framework provides a solid foundation for doing so.

Joint Statement

The Government of Cabo Verde and the United Nations Country Team in Cabo Verde are pleased to present the United Nations Sustainable  Development Cooperation Framework (UNCF) for Cabo Verde for 2023–2027.

This Framework represents the UN’s collective support to the achievement of the Five-Year Cabo Verde Sustainable Development Strategic Plan (PEDS II 2022–2026), Cabo Verde’s National Development Vision 2030, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the African  Union Agenda 2063 and the SAMOA Pathway.

Jointly developed, the 2023-2027 UNSDCF is an agreement between the Government of Cabo Verde and the UN to work together, in partnership with all stakeholders, including civil society, academia, the private sector, and development partners, to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in an integrated manner. The UNSDCF will contribute to a vision for the country where all people equitably participate in, and benefit from, sustainable development in a peaceful and resilient CaboVerdean society, underpinned by gender equality.

On behalf of the Government of Cabo Verde and the UN in Cabo Verde, we would like to extend our gratitude to those who contributed valuable time and efforts in the development of the 2023-2027 UNSDCF, in particular the Government and public partners, municipalities, development partners, representatives from civil society, private sector, academia, LNOB Partnership representatives and youth who participated in consultations throughout the one year process.

By signing hereunder, the members of the Government of Cabo Verde and the United Nations Country Team for Cabo Verde endorse the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Cabo Verde (2023–2027), and underscore the joint commitment to working together to achieve the national development priorities and ensure progress towards the Cabo Verde’s 2030 Development Vision and 2030 Agenda so that all people can benefit from sustainable development in Cabo Verde.

Executive Summary

The United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNCF) represents the UN development system’s collective offer to support Cabo Verde in addressing key development priorities and challenges to the achievement of the objectives of the strategic plan for sustainable development (Plano Estratégico de Desenvolvimento Sustentável–PEDS II) 2022-2026 leading to the achievement of the 2030Agenda, its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Cabo Verde’s National Agenda for Sustainable Development “Ambition 2030”.

The UNCF is nationally owned and anchored in national development priorities and the 2030 Agenda. It outlines the contribution of the UN development system to reach the SDGs in an integrated manner, with a commitment to leave no one behind, respect human rights, gender equality, and other international standards and obligations. The Cooperation Framework serves as a core accountability tool between the UN Country Team (UNCT) and the host Government and among UNCT members for collectively delivering development results with United Nations entity-specific country programmes and strategies derived from the UNCF. The basis for the preparation of the Cooperation Framework.

The Common Country Analysis (CCA), which identified the main challenges for the achievement of sustainable development in Cabo Verde, including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The formulation the UNCF was co-led by the Government and the United Nations, with significant contributions from the various development partners through a participatory, consultative, and inclusive process that involved youth, civil society, the private sector and the National Leave No One Behind (LNOB) partnership.

The UN and the Government of Cabo Verde jointly carried out a foresight exercise that included the main development stakeholders’ participation to identify assets, assumptions, risks, opportunities, developments solutions, and pathways that fed the Theory of Change of both the PEDS II and the  UNCF.

In response to identified development requirements, lessons learned from UNDAF 2018-2022 and an analytical and forward process, three interrelated and mutually reinforcing Strategic Priority areas are identified for the 2023-2027 Cooperation Framework. The United Nations will concentrate its efforts  through these Strategic Priority areas to support the Government of Cabo Verde in accelerating progress towards the achievement of SDGs by 2030  and to achieve a vision for the country where “all people in Cabo Verde realize their full potential in a consolidated democratic, safe, inclusive, equitable  and resilient country, without extreme poverty, dully integrated in the region”:

Strategic priority area 1: Strengthened human talent and social capital

Outcome 1.1: By 2027, more people, especially those living in the most vulnerable and marginalized situations and those living with disabilities, have equitable access to and use of high-quality, resilient, gender-responsive, and modern essential social services and protection.

Strategic priority area 2: Inclusive economic transformation, prosperity, and just transition to a healthy environment

Outcome 2. 1: By 2027, a more sustainable, inclusive, diversified and integrated economy generates decent jobs, food security and nutrition for the most vulnerable, especially women, youth and the extreme poor.

Outcome 2.2: By 2027, key marine and land ecosystems and biodiversity are better protected, restored, and more sustainably managed and the resilience to shocks and climate change are improved and gender responsive.

Strategic priority area 3: Transformative governance and strengthened territorial cohesion

Outcome 3.1 : By 2027, more people, especially women, youth, and those in vulnerable groups, freely exercise their rights, participate in, and benefit from, inclusive, resilient, transparent, and accountable institutions and a more modernized, transformative and effective system of democratic governance that upholds the rule of law, at national and local levels.