A strengthened framework to protect maternity and consolidate the national healthcare system in Cape Verde
0-1 Original language
French
I-1 Name of the initiative
A strengthened framework to protect maternity and consolidate the national healthcare system in Cape Verde
I-2 Geographical coverage
CPV
I-2-A Region/country
Cabo Verde
I-2-R Region
Africa
I-2-T Geographical scope
Country
I-3-A Initiative start date
2022
I-4 Leading entity/organization
Government
I-4-A Specification
null
I-5 Collaborating entities/organizations
Employer and Business Membership Organization
I-5 Collaborating entities/organizations
Workers' organization
I-5 Collaborating entities/organizations
Civil society, including NGOs
I-6 Has the ILO been involved in the initiative?
Yes
I-7 Is there collaboration with other agencies of the United Nations System or other partners?
Yes
II-1 Justification of the initiative
Despite progress in gender equality in Cabo Verde, further efforts are needed to improve the situation of women and promote equal opportunities and treatment in the workplace. Women's unemployment rates are higher than men's, and they are particularly overrepresented in the most precarious, vulnerable, and lowest-paid job categories. Lack of maternity protection and the unequal sharing of family responsibilities are factors that prevent women from accessing, remaining in, and advancing in the labor market, and contribute significantly to the gender pay gap.
II-10 Focus on other branches of economic activity
Accommodation and food service activities
II-10 Focus on other branches of economic activity
Other service activities
II-11 Focus on certain categories of enterprises or economic units according to their size
Not applicable
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
No specific categories of workers or employers
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Women
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Men
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Mothers
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Fathers
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Persons with other care responsibilities
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Pregnant women
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Young people
II-15 Has the initiative been developed through effective social dialogue processes and inter-institutional coordination mechanisms?
Yes, through social dialogue
II-15 Has the initiative been developed through effective social dialogue processes and inter-institutional coordination mechanisms?
Yes, inter-institutional coordination mechanisms
II-2 Objectives and description of the initiative
The ILO's technical assistance, provided within the framework of social dialogue in Cape Verde, aimed to strengthen the capacity of the tripartite constituents to take measures to better balance the sharing of family responsibilities and promote respectful workplaces for workers. The initiative contributed to the development of a legal and policy framework that fosters the recognition of caregiving and investment in the care economy, particularly with regard to work-life balance and maternity protection in Cape Verde.This was achieved through:The development of diagnoses and studies, such as on the work-life balance in the hospitality sector, or the mapping of childcare services in the city of Praia.The preparation of argumentative notes and technical notes on ILO Conventions C183 and C156.Raising awareness and advocacy with tripartite decision-makers and constituents, including high-level briefings for parliamentarians.
II-3 Type of initiative
National/local law
II-3 Type of initiative
Policy / strategy
II-3 Type of initiative
Programme
II-4 Which of the Rs in the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work guides this initiative?
Recognition, reduction and redistribution of unpaid care
II-5 Which is the main policy area of the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work does the practice focus on?
Care policies
II-6 Which other policy areas of the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work does the practice focus on?
Social Protection policies
II-6 Which other policy areas of the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work does the practice focus on?
Labour Protection policies
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Addressing the unequal gender distribution of paid and unpaid work, and promoting women’s economic inclusion and autonomy beyond caregiving
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Comprehensive maternity protection and care leave and protection policies, including paternity, parental leave and long-term care leave
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Work-life balance policies and measures, including organization, time and location of work, and other terms and conditions of employment
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Invest in and make available high-quality, affordable, adequate and accessible care services, including childcare, health care and long-term care
II-8 Which beneficiaries in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Unpaid carers (workers or persons with care responsibilities, parents, other family members, etc.)
II-8 Which beneficiaries in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Care recipients (children, older persons, persons with disabilities, etc.)
II-9 Geographical scope
Urban and rural
III-1 In a short paragraph, summarize the main results and impacts obtained
Building knowledge about equal opportunities and treatment for male and female workers with family responsibilities, and about maternity protection, led the Cabo Verdean government to revise the Maternity Law in 2023 (extending maternity leave from 60 to 90 days) and to formulate a national support program for reconciling the work and family lives of men and women.Furthermore, the tripartite mandates adopted a tripartite roadmap and a national action plan for equal opportunities and treatment for male and female workers with family responsibilities and for maternity protection in Cabo Verde.Finally, in February 2025, the Cabo Verdean government adopted a National Strategy for the Development and Institutionalization of the Healthcare System (2025-2030), including five strategic pillars: 1.Institutionalize and standardize the national healthcare system. 2.Develop and universalize healthcare services. 3.Integrate care services into social protection. 4.Ensure an equitable distribution of care work between women and men. 5.Strengthen the participation, representation, and social dialogue of healthcare workers.
III-2 Explanation of the innovative element of the initiative for advancing decent work in the care economy
The initiative was based on an awareness and advocacy strategy targeting all stakeholders, and is grounded in evidence, good practices, testimonies, and South-South exchanges, which made it possible to adapt policy recommendations to the national context.
IV-1 What were the main challenges or difficulties during the design and implementation? How were they faced/ addressed?
The main challenge was to generate interest and involvement from authorities in the issues of the equitable sharing of family responsibilities and childcare needs. At the start of the initiative, this issue was new to stakeholders. To overcome this difficulty, several actions were undertaken: the development of briefing notes on the benefits of childcare services, knowledge building, the organization of exchanges with local and national officials, and the dissemination of key messages by the initiative's national partner, the Cape Verdean Institute for Equality and Gender Equity (ICIEG), all of which facilitated the buy-in of the stakeholders involved.
IV-2 Lessons learned and good practices, including room and opportunities for improvement
La formulation et l’exécution de l’initiative de manière conjointe avec l’ICIEG et les partenaires sociaux ont favorisé son appropriation. Ceci a facilité l’implication de donateurs tel que l’Espagne.
IV-3 Key conditions for success
Les conditions de succès sont une approche inclusive, participative, et de dialogue qui a permis l’engagement et l’adhésion des différents acteurs et la co-construction de l’initiative.
IV-4 Key conditions for sustainability
The conditions for sustainability consist, firstly, of the institutionalization and ownership of efforts to promote decent work in the care economy. The government's formulation and adoption of the national support program for reconciling work and family life for men and women, and the adoption of the Strategy for the development and institutionalization of the national healthcare system, are examples of this. Secondly, the support of financial partners is also a factor in sustainability.
IV-5 Potential for transferability, expansion and replicability in other countries and contexts
The strategy and approach implemented are based on a successful experience in Senegal and have been adapted to the specific context of Cabo Verde, thus demonstrating their flexibility and relevance in different environments. Based on knowledge building, awareness-raising, and the sharing of experiences, this methodology promotes local ownership and can be easily replicated in other countries facing similar challenges.
V-1 Sources of information and documents used on the characteristics of the initiative, including links to websites, news items, toolkits, policy documents or reports
V-2 Contact information of ILO focal point
Tatiana Neves, Project Coordinator, Focal Point for the Gender and Human Rights Group in Cabo Verde ([email protected])
VI-1 Title and Description
Childcare services in PraiaA challenge for equality and development in Cabo Verde