Classified as a least developed and low-income, food-deficit country, even in years of good rain Cape Verde's cereal production usually covers less than 20 percent of overall needs. The country has virtually no other significant natural resources, and the economy continues to require substantial amounts of international aid and remittances from emigrants.
Poverty and food insecurity particularly affect children and compromise the relatively high national school enrolment rates.
However, human development indicators are among the highest in the region and the country has graduated from a Least Developed Country (LDC) to a Middle Income Country (MIC) in January 2008.
WFP is now part of the joint UN office in Cape Verde. It provided assistance to roughly 77,800 beneficiaries during 2008 in the form of school meals to primary schools and kindergartens (in a US$5.6 million operation which will terminate in July 2010.)
The improved coordination of the mandates and resources of UNFPA, WFP and UNICEF will further strengthen the delivery of an essential learning package (ELP) at school level.
Activities are concentrated on capacity building and support to the Government during the handing over of school feeding assistance. WFP’s phase-out started in January 2007 and will terminate in July 2010. The Joint Office is supporting the Government to mobilize donor support for the canteens as it is facing difficulties in finding the needed resources for the whole of 2008 and onwards.
La situation géographique et climatique du Cap Vert, le déficit de terres arables et d’eau potable, le taux élevé de croissance de la population et le manque d’emploi dans les zones rurales résultent en une pression très forte sur les ressources naturelles et une dégradation des terres. La sécurité alimentaire du pays est très précaire : même dans les années de bonne pluviométrie, le pays ne produit que 12 % de ses besoins en céréales.
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