$749,000 India-UN Health Project Aims to Transform Maternal and Child Care in Cabo Verde

New Delhi, March 6, 2026: Cabo Verde has officially launched the project “Future First: Strengthening Maternal, Newborn and Child Health in Cabo Verde”, a vital initiative aimed at reducing geographical and social disparities in access to quality maternal and neonatal health services across the country.

The project, funded by India through the India-UN Development Partnership Fund with an investment of $749,000, emphasizes South-South cooperation to achieve sustainable development goals based on principles of mutual respect and shared benefits. This collaboration highlights Cabo Verde’s growing partnerships with India in advancing public health priorities.

The project document was signed in a formal ceremony attended by Dr. Jorge Figueiredo, Minister of Health of Cabo Verde, alongside the United Nations System Resident Coordinator, and the Resident Representatives of UNDP, UNICEF, and UNFPA. The ceremony was witnessed by the Ambassador of India to Cabo Verde, symbolizing the strengthening of bilateral cooperation in health development.

“Future First” builds on the successful partnership between India and Cabo Verde, following the country’s first India-funded project (2019–2021) which focused on strengthening the national response to HIV transmission among key populations. This new initiative will also support Cabo Verde’s process for validating the elimination of maternal-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B, further bolstering the nation’s public health achievements.

The program is expected to directly benefit 14,000 pregnant women, 14,000 newborns and children under one year old, and 35,000 children under five years old in Cabo Verde, ensuring improved access to quality healthcare services for mothers and children in both urban and rural areas.

By reducing healthcare disparities and fostering international cooperation, the Future First project represents a significant step toward sustainable maternal and child health improvements in Cabo Verde.