Queen Letizia has landed in Cape Verde to begin a cooperation trip that will take her to see first-hand the work that Spain is carrying out in this African country.
Her arrival at Nelson Mandela International Airport in Praia marks the beginning of an agenda focused on gender equality, the reduction of inequalities and the development of the blue economy, key areas for Spanish cooperation in the region.
What will Queen Letizia do in Cape Verde?
Accompanied by the Secretary of State for International Cooperation, Eva Granados, the Queen will spend three days touring various projects in which Spanish aid workers are involved.
Her presence in this Atlantic archipelago reinforces Spain’s commitment to sub-Saharan Africa, where she has already made similar visits to Senegal (2017), Mozambique (2019) and Mauritania (2022).
Cape Verde is a small island state with a developing economy that, despite its democratic stability and advances in human rights, faces significant challenges such as the scarcity of natural resources, the impact of climate change and a significant dependence on tourism.
With a population of just over half a million inhabitants, where 24.75% live below the poverty line, Spanish cooperation has focused its efforts on programs that seek to improve the quality of life of its citizens.
Queen Letizia’s agenda in Cape Verde
The Queen’s agenda begins with a meeting with representatives of Spanish cooperation, followed by a visit to the Spanish Embassy in Praia, on the island of Santiago.
Afterwards, she will travel to Santa Cruz to see first-hand the work of the City of Pedra Badejo Cutting and Sewing Cooperative, a project that provides training and advice to women in vulnerable situations to facilitate their insertion into the labor market and promote their economic independence.
Together with the First Lady of Cape Verde, Débora Katisa Carvalho, Letizia will also visit shelters for women and girls who are victims of gender violence.
This is one of the main lines of work of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), which has allocated more than 13 million euros between 2021 and 2024 in Cape Verde, in addition to financing projects managed by NGOs with a budget of more than 3.7 million euros.
Another of the highlights of his tour will be the rural community of Porto Mosquito, where Spain is collaborating with the United Nations in a pilot project that seeks to reduce inequalities and promote sustainable development.
In this coastal area, the initiative is aimed at the 867 inhabitants, among them 300 fishermen and 135 fish sellers, known as peixeiras.
In addition to the importance of international cooperation, Queen Letizia’s trip will strengthen ties between Spain and Cape Verde.