·         Background

ICEIDA supported the women's organization OMCV in 1987 to 1989 with the building of a social center in Mindelo. At the time OMCV was the only women's organization in Cape Verde and linked to the governing party PAICV. Since PAICV lost power through elections in 1991 OMCV lost some of its support. Other women's organizations had undertaken to fulfill some of the functions previously pledged by OMCV. The organization therefore asked for the assistance to reorganize itself according to new social setting. Furthermore, other women's organizations, Morabi in Praia and Mulheres Empresarias in Mindelo, asked for assistance, mostly in the field of education.

·         Objectives

Various women's organizations in Cabo Verde were assisted with their programs. An effort was made to understand the structure and functioning of women's organizations in Cabo Verde and to harmonize their struggle for better rights and future life of Cabo Verde women.  This was done in cooperation with the different women's organizations and the newly established Institute for Women's Advancement. Due to historic ties a special attention was devoted to assisting OMCV with the reconstruction of its activities In Mindelo and with the ultimate utilization of their cultural center there, funded originally by ICEIDA.

·         Contributions

The women's organizations were provided with technical assistance from ICEIDA. Certain amount of money was set aside each year for worthy women's projects in Cabo Verde. The women's organizations of Cabo Verde in cooperation with the ICEIDA representative prepared proposals for new programs and ideas on how these could be carried out. The overall coordination on the Cape Verdean side was carried out by the Institute for Women's Advancement.

·         Methods

An annual working plan on technical assistance was drawn up in cooperation between women's organizations, the Institute for Women's Advancement and the ICEIDA representative.