Praia, July 9, 2026 (Lusa) - Foreign aid to Cabo Verde rose by 10.5% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026 to 1.95 billion escudos (€17.6 million), according to data from the central bank, Lusa reported on Thursday.

The central government was the main direct beneficiary, receiving 1,908 million escudos (€17.3 million), equivalent to 98%.

Local councils received 37.8 million escudos (just over €340,000).

Analysing the source of the funds, the contribution from partner governments rose by 45%, whilst that from supranational organisations fell by a quarter compared with the same period last year.

Non-governmental organisations made no disbursements in the first quarter of 2026, having channelled 75.9 million escudos (around €700,000) in the same period of 2025.

As for the type of aid, donations in foreign currency fell by 8.9%, but continue to account for the largest share (around two-thirds), with the remainder coming from donations of goods, which more than doubled, driven by the delivery of equipment.

The previous Cabo Verde government (a new government was elected in May) said that the country should begin to manage without donations as it develops, whilst donors have pointed to a reduction in funding due to other international needs.

The World Bank reclassified Cabo Verde as an upper-middle-income country in 2025.

LFO/ADB // ADB.

Lusa