Cabo Verde

To date, Cabo Verde has made significant efforts to increase social protection coverage, with the latest data suggesting that at least 61 percent of its population benefits from at least 1 social protection measure. However, despite the existence of a more favorable social security regime for independent workers, micro and small enterprises, extremely low rates of affiliation among fishers are a concerning reality.  

The latest general fisheries census carried out by the government shows that only 13 percent of fishers are registered in the national social security system, leaving many with no guaranteed access to a retirement pension, sickness and unemployment benefits and to some extent, some medical assistance benefits, for example.  

In Cabo Verde, as a result of the strengthening of the national social protection system, the government decided to expand its social and productive inclusion program to extremely poor families. Small-scale fishers and fishworkers have access, for a limited period and under certain criteria, to an income, care services, training opportunities, and other active employment policies. 

FAO, in partnership with the Ministry of the Sea and the Ministry of Family, Inclusion and Social Development, will establish a fishers' registry to improve socio-economic data and coverage of fishers under social protection systems. It aims to reduce barriers to social protection, assess the feasibility of an unemployment benefit during closed seasons and other measures to improve income stability and implement natural risk surveillance integrated with early warning systems (EWS). 

An inter-institutional working group has been established with the purpose of ensuring compliance with the overall objective of the project by supporting the implementation of activities, validation of studies to be developed, facilitating collaboration and coordination between institutions, and providing technical support. 

Evidence-based policy support  

A study on barriers to accessing social protection and micro-insurance, including financing mechanisms, is being conducted, and the findings will be delivered to the inter-institutional working group. An assessment of social protection coverage among small-scale fishers is also underway identify gaps and opportunities and inform policy improvements. 

Technical tools development 

A fisheries registry system is being developed, this will be designed in a way that is inter-operable with other registries and continuously updated, to improve fishers’ identification and enrollment in social protection programs. 

Knowledge exchange and dissemination 

In 2023, FAO organized a South-South cooperation workshop in Brazil. The event provided a platform for countries to share ideas, strategies, and experiences in designing and implementing social protection programmes tailored to the fisheries and aquaculture sector. Cabo Verde presented an overview of its National Social Protection System (SNPS), including its contributory and non-contributory components.  

In 2025, FAO will go further in exploring South-South cooperation and supporting global knowledge exchanges. Some workshops with the aim of sharing ideas on different experiences designing and strengthening interoperable registry systems and in establishing unemployment benefit programs during closing seasons will be carried out.  

FAO will support the creation and facilitation of an inter-institutional working group on social protection for the fisheries sector to enhance coordination and policy implementation.