The kick-off meeting for the Rabidantes Digitais Program took place this Friday, August 7. This initiative is part of the Morabeza Innovation Project (MIP), funded by the African Development Bank, which aims to strengthen digital skills and promote the economic empowerment of women informal traders in Cape Verde.

The program is expected to reach 250 women street vendors from the islands of Santiago, São Vicente, Fogo, and Maio through training in digital skills and entrepreneurship, as well as support for the formalization of their economic activities. With an expected duration of five months, the initiative seeks to contribute to improving the economic opportunities of the beneficiaries and to further integrating their activities into the formal and digital economic ecosystem.

The program is being carried out by the SoulCode Academy & Soul AI Joint Venture, in partnership with SheTech, which will be responsible for implementing the methodology, mobilizing the team, and carrying out the activities outlined in the work plan.

The kick-off meeting provided an opportunity to present the project, the intervention methodology, the assembled team, and the timeline for the first phase of implementation, while also serving as a forum for dialogue among the various institutions involved.

Representatives from UGPE, SISP, IGQPI, TechPark, Pró-Empresa, and DGE attended the meeting, contributing to the discussion and exchange of information regarding the program’s implementation.

UGPE was represented by its Coordinator, Nuno Gomes, and its Procurement Officer, Edna Fernandes. As the entity responsible for the fiduciary management of the Morabeza Innovation Project, UGPE ensures the fiduciary oversight of the project, contributing to the proper use of resources and procedures associated with its implementation.

During the session, the importance of a coordinated approach among the various partner entities was also emphasized to ensure that the planned actions address the specific needs of the beneficiaries and produce sustainable results.

The meeting concluded with remarks by the Minister of Economy, Trade, Industry, and Digital Transition, António Baptista, who emphasized the initiative’s significance in the context of digital transformation and the promotion of new economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs.

With the launch of the Rabidantes Digitais Program, the Morabeza Innovation Project takes another step forward in promoting digital inclusion and entrepreneurship, focusing on capacity-building as a tool to expand economic opportunities and strengthen women’s participation in Cape Verde’s digital economy.