Leave No One Behind and eradicating extreme poverty has been at the core of the UN activities and advocacy in Cabo Verde, through the work of several agencies. In line with this overarching UN goal, the Government of Cabo Verde established the goal of eradicating extreme poverty by 2026 and finalized the National Strategy to Eradicate Extreme Poverty  (ENEPE – 2022-2026) in December 2022. This strategy focuses on expanding social protection to the most vulnerable members of the population and counted with the participation of the UN during its preparation.

People facing food insecurity represent one of the LNOB groups, and their share of the overall population has been on the rise for the past three years due to global supply constraints and the impact of climate change. In 2021, 38.6% of the population in Cabo Verde experienced food insecurity. The War in Ukraine has further exacerbated this issue, with food prices increasing by over 15% on average in Cabo Verde in 2022. As a result,  food insecurity is expected to have worsened. While families in rural areas are structurally more food insecure,  external economic shocks tend to have a more direct impact on food insecurity in tourist islands such as Sal and  Boa Vista, as well as in urban municipalities.

Another LNOB group is youth who are Neither Employed, in Education, nor Training (NEET). Although their situation deteriorated during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has improved since then. In 2020, NEET youth represented 35.4% of young people aged 15-35, but by 2021, the percentage had decreased to 23.7%.  Nevertheless, the proportion of women in this group is still significantly higher at 57.7%, indicating that women and girls are socially more vulnerable and at a higher risk of being left behind.

Across all nine groups (see the LNOB Assessment), those living in income poverty, particularly in extreme poverty,  and whose limited social protection coverage does not ensure a minimum income or access to essential services and care, are considered to be at higher risk of being left behind. Therefore, the Government has identified eradicating extreme poverty by 2026 as one of its national priorities.

Figure: Unemployment and Youth NEET - 2015 and 2021 (%)

Source: INE, IMC - Employment and Labour Market Statistics and Census 2021/Population Status and Structure/Youth and the Labour Market

Link to other priorities / plans in Country

Leave No One Behind and eradicating extreme poverty has been at the core of the UN activities and advocacy in Cabo Verde, through the work of several agencies. In line with this overarching UN goal, the Government of Cabo Verde established the goal of eradicating extreme poverty by 2026 and finalized the National Strategy to Eradicate  Extreme Poverty (ENEPE – 2022-2026) in December 2022. This strategy focuses on expanding social protection to the most vulnerable members of the population and counted with the participation of the UN during its preparation.

The new ENEPE uses the Single Social Register (CSU) database to identify the most vulnerable individuals and to determine appropriate social protection measures. The CSU database employs a multidimensional analysis of vulnerability and therefore includes a wider range of individuals at risk of being left behind, rather than only those who are income-poor.

According to the CSU, the most vulnerable members of Cabo Verde’s population include 55.4% of individuals living in rural areas, 85% of female-headed households, and 37% of children (see infographic).

The ENEPE will expand social protection measures targeting the most vulnerable groups, especially female-headed households and children, through direct income transfers such as the Social Inclusion Income (RSI) and productive inclusion. By supporting the most vulnerable members of the Cabo Verdean population, the ENEPE  aims to not only contribute to the eradication of extreme poverty, which is a common feature of many of those left behind, but also to ensure that no one is left behind.

Overall, the Government of Cabo Verde has prioritized the eradication of extreme poverty and has developed a  comprehensive strategy, the ENEPE, to achieve this goal. The use of the CSU database ensures that the most vulnerable individuals are identified and targeted with appropriate social protection measures, including direct income transfers and productive inclusion. The successful implementation of the ENEPE will contribute to the eradication of extreme poverty and leave no one behind.