Africa-Press – Cape verde. The latest study, titled “Rapid Analysis of Digital Skills for Civil Society, Public and Private Sectors,” funded by the UGPE, presents a detailed portrait of the current state of digital literacy in Cape Verde, identifying skills gaps, the transformative potential of the digital economy, and the main obstacles preventing the country from advancing towards full digitalization. The analysis, conducted using a robust methodology aligned with international standards, highlights both the opportunities and challenges of a sector that can be decisive for economic growth and the reduction of social inequalities in the archipelago.
The study was based on a combined approach, which included 1,019 valid responses to surveys representative of the economically active population, with balanced coverage in terms of age and geography, and ten focus groups with 28 participants from 24 institutions in the public and private sectors. In the public sector, 12 representatives from 10 entities participated, including ministries and general directorates. The private sector, meanwhile, included 16 participants from 14 organizations, including startups, NGOs, associations, and financial institutions. The most recent European Digital Competence Framework for Citizens, published by the European Commission in 2022, was used to assess digital skills. This tool, comprised of five competency areas, 21 sub-competencies, and six proficiency levels—from basic user to expert—allowed for a structured measurement of the population’s aptitude in areas such as information management, communication and collaboration, digital content creation, security, and problem-solving.
Economic Potential
Regarding economic potential, the conclusions are ambitious: digitalization could increase Cape Verde’s per capita GDP by more than 145% over the next 10 years, from US$7,316.17 (in 2019) to US$17,888.45, with an average annual growth rate of 11.8%. This level would place the country above economies such as Egypt or South Africa in terms of purchasing power parity.
The main driver of this growth would be increased productivity, responsible for 139% of the estimated change, thanks to the strengthening of the digital sectors, improved internal efficiency, and technological diffusion to other sectors. Net exports of ICT services would make a modest contribution (1%), while increased employment would account for 7% of the projection.
It is important to emphasize that the calculations were conservative, not including gains from emerging technologies such as generative AI, 5G, or blockchain, nor the potential impact of attracting skilled talent from the diaspora.
Assessment
The assessment of digital skills reveals a mixed picture. Cape Verde has independent levels in the areas of Information and Data (4.04) and Communication and Collaboration (4.22), but a deficit in Digital Content Creation (3.37) and Problem Solving (3.20), especially in more complex tasks. In digital communication, high scores stand out for the ability to communicate (4.95) and share information (4.91), although active participation in society through digital media is lower (3.97). In Security (3.74), there is reasonable autonomy to protect devices, personal data, and health, but there is room for improvement in recognizing the environmental impact of technologies.
Sectoral differences are also significant. The private sector (4.01) slightly outperforms the public sector (3.68) and NGOs (3.79), while the informal sector has much lower scores (2.66). In the private sector, digitalization is most urgent in the areas of accounting, management, and customer service, with high demand for skills in digital security, data analysis, artificial intelligence, and design. In the public sector, there are internal disparities: areas such as Inspection, Education, and Public Administration stand out for their digital maturity, but the financial and diplomatic sectors score lowest in digital content creation. The need for training in basic tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Docs, Zoom, Teams, WhatsApp) is widespread, with an average importance of 4.39 on a scale of 1 to 6.
Regarding vulnerable groups, the study reveals worrying inequalities. Men (4.04) have higher skills than women (3.53), with the difference being more pronounced in the private sector. There is also a clear generational gap: people between 18 and 44 years old have averages of 3.91-3.92, while those 65 and older fall to 2.85. People with disabilities score 3.20, compared to 3.77 for the non-disabled population. Low education levels and participation in the informal sector are also associated with lower levels. These indicators warn of the risk of increased exclusion of these groups in the context of digital acceleration, requiring specific policies.Inclusion specifics.
Failures and Challenges
Among the market failures and challenges identified, the most cited is the lack of financial resources, followed by the shortage of qualified human resources. Insufficient knowledge and lack of time are less common but still significant barriers. In the public sector, poor organizational preparedness translates into low investment in ongoing training: 46% of departments offer general training infrequently, and 47% rarely offer digital training. Furthermore, aligned strategies, multidisciplinary teams, and clear digital leadership are lacking. Organizational culture does not always value innovation and collaboration, and the integration of technologies into public services remains incomplete.
Recommendations
The study’s recommendations range from measures for the general population—such as investing in lifelong learning, investing in basic education, strengthening digital inclusion, and promoting the ethical and safe use of technologies—to sector-specific guidelines.
In the public sector, the priority is to improve skills in security, interoperability, the use of tools such as AI and Power BI, and promoting critical thinking and effective communication. In the private sector, there is strong demand for data analysis, automation, digital security, content creation, and mastery of premium tools. In both cases, a culture of continuous learning is highlighted as essential.
The focus groups highlighted five strategic axes: education and training (combining digital and behavioral skills), realistic and accelerated digitalization planning, inclusion and adaptation of the transition to specific groups, strengthening digital security and ethics, and valuing best practices with training incentives.
Among international examples that Cape Verde could adapt are Singapore’s SkillsFuture program, which awards individual credits for continuous training, and Rwanda’s Kigali Employment Service Center, which subsidizes training aligned with employer needs.
According to Margarida Mascarenhas, mentor of Cape Verde’s digital skills strategy project, the national average was 3.75 points, indicating that the country is at an intermediate level.
“People have some skills to perform certain tasks alone, but we are still far from achieving true digital autonomy,” he explained in statements to the media on the day the study was presented.
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