Africa-Press – Cape verde. The Government will allocate approximately 20 million escudos to support the operation of 12 organizations working with people with disabilities, within the framework of the 2026 Inclusion Promotion Program, Minister Fernando Elísio Freire announced this Friday.
The minister made these statements to the press in Praia, on the sidelines of the signing of protocols relating to the year 2026 with associations working in the area of disability, within the framework of the Inclusion Promotion Program for people with special needs.
The initiative, developed through the Directorate-General for Planning, Budget and Management, is part of the Cape Verdean Government’s commitment to strengthening the institutional capacity of organizations representing people with disabilities and to consolidating public policies aimed at inclusion, equal opportunities and the promotion of human dignity.
According to Fernando Elísio Freire, the amount allocated to the organizations “is practically double” what it was about seven years ago, representing an effort by the executive branch to guarantee better operating conditions for the associations.
“We currently have around 20 million escudos for these 12 NGOs, intended for their operation, and there are also calls for proposals that they can apply for to further increase funding,” he explained.
The official indicated that the distribution of resources will be done in a differentiated way, taking into account the structure, size, and area of intervention of each organization, ensuring a distribution considered fair according to the identified needs.
Fernando Elísio Freire acknowledged, however, that the resources “are never enough,” advocating for improvements both in the financial provision by the ministry’s services and in the accountability of the NGOs, to accelerate the release of funds and increase the effectiveness of the support.
The program’s main focuses are strengthening organizations of people with disabilities, access to medical treatments and compensation mechanisms for low-income families, as well as promoting vocational training for young people and adults with disabilities, with a view to autonomy and integration into the labor market.
The signing of the protocols for 2026 reinforces the partnership between the State and civil society, in an integrated approach aimed at promoting a more just, supportive and accessible society, ensuring that no one is left behind.
The associations included are the Association of Parents and Friends of Children and Young People with Special Needs (Colmeia), the Cape Verdean Association of the Disabled (ACD), the Cape Verdean Association of the Deaf (ACS), the UNDP Association (APNUD), the National Center for Orthopedic and Functional Rehabilitation (CENORF), the Association for the Support of People with Cerebral Palsy (Acarinhar); the COPAC Association (COPAC), the Association of Visually Impaired People of Cape Verde (ADEVIC), the Association for the Development and Training of People in Special Conditions of Cape Verde (ADEF), the A Ponte Association (A Ponte); and the Cape Verdean Federation of Associations of People with Disabilities (FECAD) and Soluz.
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