Lux-Development (Cabo Verde)

Cabo Verde is an archipelago consisting of a dozen islands (volcanic in origin) in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Senegal. The capital, Praia, is part of Santiago Island, which is the largest island and home to the biggest share of the country’s population.

Although most of the islands have a rugged terrain consisting of volcanic soil, others are flat and sandy with scant vegetation and a hot, dry climate. Annual rainfall is approximately 230 mm in Praia, although other islands have even less rain, with the result that surface and drilling water resources are very limited and vegetation is generally scarce. The islands of Santo Antão and São Nicolau are, to some extent, an exception on the north-eastern side, which is more exposed to the moisture from the ocean. Although the connection rate to the water network is very high in Cabo Verde, covering the needs of the population and contamination of the scarce resources are real challenges for the future.