About Us
U.S. Cooperation
Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)
On July 4, 2005, the United States, through the MCC, signed a five-year Compact with the Republic of Cape Verde to support the country's goal of poverty reduction through economic growth. The $ 110 million grant supports Cape Verde in achieving its national development goal of transforming its economy from aid-dependency to economically and socially sustainable growth. This funding by MCC makes the US one the largest donors in Cape Verde. MCC funds are being applied to improve the country’s infrastructure, improve access to micro-credit, and provide access to markets, and social services; improved water availability and management to improve agricultural productivity; as well as carry out key policy reforms for sustained development and economic growth. At the completion of the Compact, the program is expected to increase Cape Verde's annual income by at least $10 million.
For further information, including requests for expression of interest for the provision of services and goods visit the MCA-Cape Verde web site at www.mca.cv.
Peace Corps
The United States is supporting Cape Verde’s economic development by supplying Peace Corps Volunteers in two multi-sector programs. More than 50 Peace Corps Volunteers, spread over 8 of the 9 inhabited islands, are engaged in teaching, small enterprise and community development.
On Sept 1, 2008 the latest group of 27 new Peace Corps Volunteers participated in an official Swearing-in ceremony that will begin their two-year service in Cape Verde. The GoCV ministers of education and agriculture and the environment addressed the Volunteers at the ceremony held in Escola Tecnica de Assomada. The oath was administered by Marianne Myles, US Ambassador to Cape Verde. The Santa Catarina region hosts groups of Volunteers in seven villages during their pre-service training. Part of the training is living with local families to better prepare for their life and work in Cape Verde. Their training includes lessons on Crioulo and Portuguese languages and culture, as well as work on projects with local schools and communities. After taking the oath, the Volunteers travel to sites all over Cape Verde to work as English teachers, vocational and environmental educators, IT and teacher trainers as well as in small enterprise and community development.
Peace Corps, established in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy to promote world peace and friendship, has been present in Cape Verde since 1988. Since then, more than 420 Volunteers have served in Cape Verdean communities. Volunteers from the new group, which is the 20th in Cape Verde, are placed as far north as Santo Antão and as far south as Fogo working in secondary and technical schools, universities, youth centers, rural extension services, parks and protected areas and with local government and non-governmental institutions. They will join more than 195,000 Americans who have served as Peace Corps Volunteers in 138 countries throughout the world since 1961.
For further information on Peace Corps, please visit the Peace Corps website and Peace Corps Cape Verde website.