weighted score 2.6 · nine dimensions
Country Risk Profile
Cape Verde
Sourcing risk, regulatory exposure and audit intelligence for Cape Verde-origin supply chains.
Forced & child labour
2
Not TVPRA-listed. Very low forced labour incidence. Strong rule of law. Education compulsory and enforced. Low risk.
Worker rights & FOA
2
Freedom of association protected and respected. Trade unions operate freely. Labour law well-developed. Strong democratic governance supports worker rights.
OHS & audit transparency
3
Limited industrial activity means limited OHS risk. Tourism and fisheries are main sectors. Audit ecosystem small but functional.
Food & product safety
2
Fisheries exports meet EU SPS standards. Food safety regulation adequate for export sectors. Limited product range reduces complexity.
Environmental & regulatory
3
Marine conservation efforts. No IUU card. Environmental regulation developing. Water scarcity is main environmental challenge. Island ecosystem vulnerability.
Governance & anti-corruption
2
TI CPI 62 — strongest in West Africa. Independent judiciary. Multi-party democracy. Anti-corruption framework functional.
Tariff & preferential access
3
EU EPA provides duty-free access. EU Special Partnership. Good preferential access framework for current export profile.
Non-tariff barriers
3
SPS compliance achieved for fisheries. Regulatory alignment with EU progressing. Small export volumes mean limited NTB friction.
Supply chain traceability
3
Fisheries traceability systems in place for EU exports. Small volumes make chain-of-custody manageable. Limited complexity in supply chains.
Labour & Social Risk
Labour & Social Risk
- Forced labour
- Cape Verde is not listed on the US TVPRA List of Goods Produced by Forced or Child Labor. Forced labour incidence is very low. Strong rule of law for the region provides worker protections.
- Child labour
- Child labour prevalence is low. Education is compulsory and well-enforced. ILO conventions ratified. Street children in urban areas are a social concern but not linked to export supply chains.
- Worker rights
- Freedom of association is constitutionally protected and respected in practice. Trade unions operate freely. Labour law framework is well-developed for the region.
Governance & Trade Access
Governance & Trade Access
- Governance
- TI CPI 2025: 62 — strongest in West Africa. Independent judiciary. Multi-party democracy with peaceful transitions. Governance score of 2 reflects this strong institutional environment.
- Trade access
- EU EPA provides preferential access. EU Special Partnership since 2007. Fisheries products are the main export to EU markets and meet SPS requirements.
- Regulatory alignment
- Cape Verde actively pursues regulatory alignment with EU standards in areas covered by the Special Partnership. This facilitates compliance for EU-bound exports.