Realizing Dreams, Transforming Lives: Cabo Verde’s Ambitious Plan to Break the Cycle of Extreme Poverty by 2026

Located 500 km off the coast of West Africa, the island nation of Cabo Verde has embarked on an ambitious goal: being the first country in Western and Central Africa to eradicate extreme poverty by 2026. The country has long been seen as an example of democracy and champion for poverty reduction in Africa. The proportion of its population living in extreme poverty (with less than $1.90 per day) fell from 23.7% in 2015 to 12.7% in 2019 due to greater investment in social protection policies. Despite the progress, Cabo Verde’s poverty reduction trajectory was interrupted by the economic recession resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.