The Ministry of Finance in Cabo Verde begins implementation of the Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions

Last month, the Cape Verdean Ministry of Finance took a crucial step towards institutionalizing gender equality in public administration with the official launch of the Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions. This initiative is promoted by UNDP in partnership with the Pro PALOP-TL Phase III program, which is funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP.  

Over the years, Pro PALOP-TL SAI has played an instrumental role in advancing inclusive governance and gender equality in partner countries. Through strategic support for legal, normative, and institutional reforms, as well as targeted capacity-building efforts, the program has helped integrate a gender perspective into economic governance. Notably, it has supported gender mainstreaming in strategic planning, public policies, and budget cycles by implementing the Pro PALOP TL SAI GRB Methodology within Public Finance Management Systems. 

This support has contributed to a growing recognition of gender-responsive programming in Cabo Verde, as evidenced by increased resource allocations for gender equality and women’s empowerment initiatives.  The launch of the Gender Seal marks another significant milestone, coming after the signing of the Letter of Commitment by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Olavo Correia, who reaffirmed the high-level political commitment to promoting gender equality in the Cape Verdean public sector. 

Laying the Groundwork for Change 

To kick off the implementation of the Gender Equality Seal, approximately 40 technical staff and senior managers—including National and General Directors—from the Ministry of Finance, along with representatives from the Cape Verde Institute for Gender Equality (ICIEG), participated in an intensive three-day training. The sessions introduced the Seal’s implementation steps and explored its dimensions, standards, and benchmarks. Participants engaged with key concepts such as EQUANOMICS and Gender-Responsive Public Financial Management. The training also addressed critical topics including work-life balance, institutional accountability, strategic partnerships, and mechanisms for preventing and responding to sexual harassment and gender-based violence in the workplace. Support from our gender experts based in New York focused particularly on GBV and workplace sexual harassment, as well as on fostering partnerships and accountability with feminist organizations and those working to advance gender equality. 

The activity was led by the Pro PALOP TL SAI Team and the UNDP Gender Global Team with support from UNDP experts in New York, and attended by the Secretary of State for Finance, Alcindo Mota; the President of ICIEG, Marisa Carvalho; UNDP Resident Representative David Matern; the Ambassador of the European Union in Cape Verde, Carla Grijó; and the Global Coordinator of the Gender Equality Seal (online), Ana Landa. 

The Gender Equality Seal is not just a technical instrument or symbolic recognition. Above all, it is a process of organizational transformation that challenges each institution to look within itself, to identify barriers, to correct inequalities and to create more fair conditions for all people.

Marisa Carvalho, President of the Cape Verde Institute for Gender Equality (ICIEG)

Key insights from the Capacity-Building Journey 

Interactive activities held during the training provided valuable insights into participants’ perceptions of the opportunities and challenges related to implementing the Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions. Many highlighted the need for specialized gender expertise, institutionalized coordination mechanisms, and stronger political commitment to drive sustainable change. A recurring theme was the importance of establishing a dedicated gender unit within the Ministry of Finance, equipped with the capacity and authority to lead implementation efforts. Participants also identified key areas for growth, including the need to enhance internal engagement, strengthen technical capacities, and support change management efforts. They proposed forward-looking solutions including more inclusive work environments, flexible work arrangements, anonymous reporting channels, and partnerships with women’s rights organizations to strengthen accountability and policy impact. These reflections underscore both the urgency and the potential for transformative change through the Gender Equality Seal. 

From Training to Implementation 

The workshop culminated in the official appointment of the Gender Equality Commission – consisting of 20 senior managers and led by Gilson Pine, National Director of Planning (DNP) –which will monitor and guide the implementation of the Seal in Cape Verde. Directors and technicians from various departments also reaffirmed the institution’s strong commitment to leading the structural transformation of management practices, aiming to produce inclusive public policies that effectively promote gender equality.  

In his speech, Secretary of State for Finance Alcindo Mota emphasized the central role of gender equality in sustainable development, good governance, the effective use of public resources, and the fulfillment of international commitments – particularly Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality). He presented the Seal as a tool for transforming how the Ministry of Finance plans, budgets, and evaluates public policies and programs, ensuring that the specific needs of women and men are fully considered, and reaffirmed the Ministry’s ambition to achieve the Gold level of the Seal. Mota further highlighted the Seal’s role in fostering a more inclusive, equitable, and representative organizational culture, and in positioning the Ministry as a model of institutional leadership.  

The goal is not just to obtain certification. It is to promote real change in public institutions, making them more inclusive, fair, and committed to gender equality.

Secretary of State for Finance Alcindo Mota 

Looking Ahead 

The Cape Verdean Ministry of Finance thus becomes the first public institution in the PALOP and Timor Leste countries to move forward to the implementation phase of the Seal, positioning itself as a regional leader in advancing the 2030 Agenda, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 5 on Gender Equality. In the months ahead, the Ministry will focus on transforming its institutional practices to align both its internal operations and its public policies with the benchmarks of the Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions, reinforcing its commitment to inclusive and sustainable development.