Upskilling in Cape Verde

The Institute of Employment and Vocational Training (Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional, IEFP) implements state employment and qualification policy. The Employment and Vocational Training Centres (Centros de Emprego e Formação Profissional, CEFP) provide information about offers by island and municipality; IEFP also offers online learning in some cases. Modular continuing education follows the National Catalogue of Qualifications (Catálogo Nacional de Qualificações, CNQ) and covers qualification levels 2 to 5. Individual modules can sometimes be certified and later combined into a qualification, without every module having to be completed as part of a continuous training programme. A modular pathway can comprise up to 600 hours; in regular operation, a maximum of 6 hours per day and 35 hours per week applies, while alongside employment the limit is generally 4 hours per day. For company-specific requirements, companies can agree a Modular Training Agreement (Acordo de Formação Modular) with a provider and organise training within the company. Adults may participate depending on access requirements, employment and affiliation with a training centre. For qualification level 3 or higher, access through key competences may be possible from the age of 18; missing school prerequisites may require an entrance test or competence modules. The recognition, validation and certification of competences procedure (RVCC) recognises competences acquired non-formally or informally and proceeds through information, recognition, validation and certification; it generally requires an age of at least 25 and at least 5 years of work experience. Missing competence units can be supplemented through additional modules, while dual certification (dupla certificação) requires both an academic and a vocational component. Only accredited public, private or cooperative providers may issue legally recognised certificates and must comply with CNQ requirements, examinations and reporting on offers and participants. Participants must follow the established module sequence and may not take the same module simultaneously with several providers; certificates and credits earned may accumulate. There is no uniform fee schedule because costs and funding depend on the course, provider and funding call; travel, materials or fees may also have to be paid separately. Funding and subsidies are provided, among other channels, through the Employment and Training Promotion Fund (Fundo de Promoção do Emprego e Formação, FPEF). Edital 01/2024 provided for up to 100% funding for certain supported target groups at competency levels CSU 1 and 2; Edital 03/2025/M1 sets 31 October 2026 as a deadline for offers. A general statutory entitlement to paid educational leave is not established for Cape Verde. CEFP offers have been documented on Boa Vista, Fogo, Sal, Santiago, Santo Antão, São Nicolau and São Vicente; on other islands, access depends on specific partnerships, calls for applications or online offers. Continuing education in Cape Verde is therefore formally established, but its practical delivery depends on the island, provider and call for applications.