The closing ceremony of the “Strengthening Migrant Integration through cooperation between Portugal and Cabo Verde” (Coop4Int) project took place on July 24, 2025, in the city of Praia, Cape Verde. Coop4Int was funded by the European Union through the MPF since December 2021 and sought to enhance the inclusion of migrants in line with the National Immigration Strategy and 2018-2021 Action Plan for Immigration and Social Integration of Cabo Verde.
After three and a half years of activities, the project leaves behind a lasting legacy that includes the creation of “Local Immigration Units” and the corresponding development of services for the assistance, guidance, and information of immigrants; an Immigrant Entrepreneur Support Service; vocational training of migrants residing in Cabo Verde; capacity development activities involving Cabo Verdean and Portuguese authorities in migration and migrant integration; and a new Migration Observatory.
A shifting migration reality for Cabo Verde
Immigration is a relatively new phenomenon for Cabo Verde. With a sizeable diaspora population and reliant on remittances, it is only recently that Cabo Verde has experienced an influx of migration flows. The country’s strategic location off the West African coast, close to Africa, Europe, and the Americas, has contributed to this change.
Taking stock of the project’s achievements since 2021, Oleg Chirita, Deputy Head of ICMPD Brussels Mission/Head of Unit, Global Initiatives, congratulated all parties during the closing ceremony by stating “Integration is not a myth—it is a necessity. A necessity for social cohesion, for economic development, and for human dignity. In a world where anti-immigrant narratives are growing louder, Cabo Verde offers a refreshing and hopeful message: integration works.” Other representatives, including the Cabo Verde Minister of State and representatives from the European Commission, emphasised the project’s contribution to advancing Cape Verde’s national immigration strategy and fostering cooperation with Portugal.
Local Immigration Units: from information providers to first-line responders
The Local Immigration Units in the islands of Sal, Boa Vista, Santa Catarina de Santiago and São Vicente are an interesting practice to highlight. Conceived as ‘one-stop shops’, that provide access to information and public services for migrants to facilitate their integration into Cabo Verdean society. These units closely collaborate with local councils, serving as extensions of the High Authority for Immigration - Cabo Verde’s national institution responsible for overseeing the implementation of the country’s integration policies.
The units were pivotal in providing a first line of assistance when a series of boat arrivals in early 2023 sprung the unit councillors into action, acting as the central points to organise rescue and reception operations and coordination with essential actors in the provision of medical services, food, and shelter, as described in this MPF article.
Their day-to-day activities continue, having provided services to over 5,000 migrants and organising 30 information and awareness sessions since their launch in early 2023.
Other Coop4Int achievements
Aside from the Local Immigration Units, the closing event was the opportunity to take stock of the many other impressive achievements that will benefit Cabo Verde’s migrants and authorities.
A few highlights worth citing are:
- The launch of the Immigrant Entrepreneur Support Service that has offered 280 client consultations to date, supported the formalisation of 17 new businesses, and organised eight entrepreneurship workshops attended by 89 participants. In collaboration with a microcredit cooperative, the service helped secure financing for 12 businesses. Additionally, three business management workshops have been conducted, benefiting 31 participants by enhancing their skills in managing their enterprises. To complement this service, an Entrepreneurship Immersion Week was held in Portugal and two Entrepreneurship Bootcamps were organised in Cabo Verde, taking place in Praia, Sal, and São Vicente, offering practical and intensive training for aspiring entrepreneurs.
- Capacity building: 24 capacity development sessions were delivered for 447 technical staff from both Cabo Verde and Portugal, covering key topics such as human rights, intercultural education, intercultural mediation, community organising, entrepreneurship, leadership, project management, and training of trainers. In parallel, 113 immigrants completed vocational training in practical fields, boosting employability and economic integration.
- Extensive communication efforts promoted migrant rights, cultural diversity, and access to services, including multilingual materials such as an Immigrant Guide, an Entrepreneurship Manual, video tutorials, public service announcements, and intercultural notebooks for youth. Outreach included 45 radio programmes, 43 public talks, school competitions, and public campaigns, reaching over 2,300 participants.
- To support evidence-based policy, a national migrant survey and three thematic studies were conducted on immigrant integration, migratory profiles, and the labour market. Findings were shared through six dissemination events and one peer-reviewed article. The National Observatory’s website can be accessed here.
Background
Coop4Int was funded by the European Union, contracted by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development through the Migration Partnership Facility for 44 months through the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund.
It was implemented by the Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo (Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum – AIMA) of Portugal, in collaboration with the Alta Autoridade para a Imigração (High Authority for Immigration, Public Institute – AAI) of Cabo Verde, the Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (University Institute of Lisbon – ISCTE), and the Instituto Politécnico de Bragança (Polytechnic Institute of Bragança – IPB), both in Portugal.
The project is a continuation of long-standing collaboration between the European Union and Cabo Verde in migrant integration and picks up from an earlier project held between 2016 and 2019, where authorities were supported in drafting the Municipal Action Plan for Migrant Integration at the Local Level in Cabo Verde through the MIgration EU eXpertise Inititiative.
Related articles and videos
Closing event summary (video)
Answering the Call: Cabo Verde’s Local Immigration Units Support Migrants Arriving by Boat
Local Immigration Units serve as anchors in Cabo Verde migration landscape