The Special Projects Management Unit (UGPE) and the Cape Verdean Institute for Children and Adolescents (ICCA) signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday, March 31, aimed at strengthening prevention and response efforts regarding violence against children in Cape Verde.

The agreement was signed by UGPE Coordinator Nuno Gomes and ICCA President Zaida Freitas, and establishes cooperation to carry out training and awareness-raising activities on topics such as sexual abuse, child labor, digital violence, and other forms of violence against children.

The partnership is part of the implementation of projects funded by the World Bank Group, through the International Development Association (IDA), in areas such as human capital, resilient tourism, the blue economy, renewable energy, digital transformation, statistics, and urban infrastructure.

In this context, UGPE has been strengthening the integration of environmental and social measures, with a special focus on the prevention and mitigation of risks associated with Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA), Sexual Harassment (SH), and violence against children.

The protocol aims to promote actions targeting project staff, partners, and beneficiary communities, as well as to strengthen institutional coordination and mechanisms for the prevention, identification, and referral of at-risk situations within the National Child Protection System.

Through this initiative, the two institutions reaffirm their commitment to protecting children’s rights and promoting safe and inclusive environments in Cape Verde.