It is with great satisfaction and commitment that the National Institute of Social Security Angola has been participating for several years in numerous initiatives under the ACTION/Portugal Project, as it assumes an importance, among others, of training and raising awareness on measures aimed at strengthening Social Protection Systems, particularly in CPLP countries.

In the 2nd Semester of 2018, we engaged in participation and involvement in a strategic issue for our Mandatory Social Protection System – the extension of Social Security coverage for workers in the informal economy. The decision-makers and technicians of the Institute got to know international experiences and trends on the subject, becoming more sensitised and aware of the relevance of a contributory-based system to progressively integrate groups of informal economy workers and, mainly, the ways in which this can be done.

The National Institute of Social Security (INSS) of São Tomé and Príncipe looks on positively to the ACTION/Portugal programme, which has contributed to the capacity building and training of its staff. On the other hand, it has allowed the INSS of São Tomé to share its experiences and be exposed to the know-how of countries like Portugal and Cabo Verde, with which it has strong cooperation relations. 

The support provided by ACTION/Portugal has been very important for Mozambique’s National Institute of Social Security (INSS) to continue to successfully implement the programmes in its portfolio, aiming to provide social security services with excellence. It is also important to highlight the technical and training support that constitutes an essential tool for the improvement of services provided by INSS.

The ACTION/Portugal project to strengthen social protection systems in the PALOP countries and Timor-Leste has been essential for the National Institute of Social Security of Guinea-Bissau to continue providing social security benefits to Guinean citizens and has managed to create important cooperation ties, especially with Portugal and Cabo Verde. 

I consider the contribution of the ILO, through ACTION/Portugal, to the implementation and consolidation of the policies outlined for the social protection of the non-contributory system in Cabo Verde to be immeasurable.

The results achieved by the National Centre for Social Benefits (CNPS) over these years, whether in extending the coverage of social benefits, improving management capacity or even institutional strengthening, are due mainly to the ongoing support of the ILO, through ACTION/Portugal. This support has taken various forms, such as technical-financial assistance and training activities.