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Cabo Verde Digital - The Operational Nucleus for the Information Society -NOSi

Institutional Overview

The Operational Nucleus for the Information Society (NOSi) serves as the primary engine for Cabo Verde's digital agenda, originally established to modernize public administration and overcome the archipelago's geographic fragmentation. 

Acting as the government's "technological arm," NOSi spearheads digital transformation by managing the State's Private Technological Network and developing over 100 e-government solutions to ensure efficient service delivery. 

This analysis evaluates NOSi's strategic evolution and its pivotal role in the "Cyber Island" vision. It specifically examines why NOSi was founded to centralize technical capacity and how it addresses critical challenges regarding connectivity, bureaucratic inefficiency, and digital sovereignty in a small island nation.

NOSi - Mission, Vision, and Objectives 

Established as the Operational Nucleus for the Information Society under Resolution 15/2003 and restructured as a public enterprise (E.P.E.) by Decree-Law 13/2014, NOSi operates as the government's primary "technological arm". 

Functioning under the strategic direction of the Ministry of the Digital Economy/Finance and led by a Board of Directors, NOSi manages critical digital infrastructure, including the State's Private Technological Network (RTPE) and the Government Data Center. 

While historically possessing broad authority to execute all public ICT solutions, NOSi is evolving into an ecosystem enabler and Digital Certification Authority (NOSi-CA),. It collaborates closely with the Special Projects Management Unit (UGPE) on fiduciary implementation and partners with the multisectoral regulator (ARME),.

A Digital Certificate Authority (CA) is a trusted entity that issues and manages digital certificates. These bind public keys to identities, enabling secure online communication via encryption, authentication, and trust in websites, emails, and software.

Acting as the government's "technological arm," NOSi spearheads digital transformation by managing the State's Private Technological Network and developing over 100 e-government solutions to ensure efficient service delivery.

NOSi - Key Functions and Activities 

NOSi manages critical infrastructure, including the State's Private Technological Network (RTPE) and secure Data Centers in Praia and Mindelo, offering cloud services to public and private entities,. NOSi develops and maintains over 100 e-government solutions, such as the open-source IGRPWeb framework, the Consular Portal, and the SNIAC system for civil identification and authentication

Beyond infrastructure, NOSi fosters the digital ecosystem through NOSiAkademia (professional internships), WebLab (youth training), and TicSeed incubation,. These services impact citizens and businesses by streamlining bureaucracy—enabling "Company in a Day" registration—and ensuring secure, rapid access to public documents,.

NOSi - Digital Infrastructure & Technology

NOSi anchors Cabo Verde's infrastructure modernization by managing the State's Private Technological Network (RTPE), interconnecting over 1,100 institutions via fiber optic rings and wireless broadband. 

Through a strategic partnership with Huawei, NOSi implemented a "One Cloud, One Lake, One Platform" architecture to expand the Government Cloud, establishing Tier-III equivalent Data Centers in Praia and a disaster recovery site in Mindelo. 

To ensure security, NOSi operates as the Digital Certification Authority (NOSi-CA), deploying Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and blockchain technologies for secure digital identity and transactions. 

Future initiatives focus on supporting 5G implementation and utilizing the EllaLink cable to boost regional connectivity.

NOSi -  Strategic Partnerships & Funding

NOSi leverages strategic multinational partnerships to fund and execute Cabo Verde's digital agenda. 

  • The World Bank finances the Digital Cabo Verde Project (scaling to US$40 million), supporting legal reforms, digital public services like the Consular Portal, and NOSi's institutional restructuring,. 
  • The African Development Bank is a primary financier, providing over €45 million for the Technology Park and e-governance modernization,. 
  • Huawei serves as a critical private-sector partner, having constructed the National Data Center and cloud infrastructure, while co-developing the WebLab program to build youth technical capacity,. 

These collaborations provide essential capital and technical expertise, enabling NOSi to export digital solutions to the wider African region,.

NOSi - Challenges & Limitations

NOSi faces significant challenges as it transitions from a state-centric developer to an ecosystem enabler. 

Its historical dominance in e-government solutions risks crowding out the private sector, stifling market competition and innovation. Technically, while infrastructure is robust, high connectivity costs and the maintenance of legacy systems hinder efficiency. Furthermore, a shortage of advanced digital skills in the local workforce limits the scaling of complex projects. 

To mitigate these issues, strategic recommendations include among other options, restructuring NOSi to separate commercial operations, fostering private-sector partnerships, and intensifying cybersecurity and human capital development.

Background

The Digital Cabo Verde Project (DCV) - financed by the World Bank

The Digital Cabo Verde Project (DCV) is a major flagship initiative financed by the World Bank to accelerate Cabo Verde's transformation into a regional digital hub. Approved initially in November 2020 with a US$20 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA), the project aims to strengthen the country's digital competitiveness foundations and improve the provision of digital public services.

As of early 2025, the project is undergoing an Additional Financing (AF) phase of another US$20 million, bringing the total operation cost to US$40 million and extending the timeline to October 2028.

Strategic Objectives

The project supports the government's long-term vision, articulated in the Cabo Verde Ambition 2030 and the Strategic Plan for Sustainable Development (PEDS), to transition from a tourism-dependent economy to a diversified service economy functioning as a "Cyber Island".

  • Original Objective: To strengthen digital competitiveness foundations and improve the provision of digital public services.
  • Revised Objective (AF): To strengthen digital competitiveness foundations and improve the provision and usage of digital public services.

Project Components

The project is structured around several key components designed to address the supply and demand sides of the digital economy:

1. Enabling Legal and Regulatory Environment (Original: $2.2M | Revised Total: $2.85M) This component focuses on legal and regulatory reforms to create a vibrant, safe, and inclusive digital economy.

  • Regulation: It supports the Multisectoral Economic Regulatory Agency (ARME) in implementing wholesale broadband regulations, infrastructure sharing frameworks, and digital transaction laws.
  • Institutional Reform: It finances the strategic repositioning of NOSi (transitioning from a state operator to a facilitator) and the restructuring of Cabo Verde Telecom (CVT).
  • Cybersecurity: It supports the implementation of the National Cybersecurity Strategy and data protection laws to build trust in digital systems.

2. Digital Competitiveness (Original: $7.5M | Revised Total: $10M) This component targets the "analog complements" of digital transformation: skills and connectivity.

  • Connectivity for Education: Expanding broadband access to schools and government entities. This includes purchasing international bandwidth to lower costs and ensuring last-mile connectivity.
  • Digital Skills (WebLab): Supporting the WebLab program (Phase II) to train youth and women in digital skills (coding, robotics). The project aims to certify 25,000 youth, with a target of 50% female participation.
  • Entrepreneurship: Supporting the Cabo Verde Digital program (e.g., Bolsa Cabo Verde Digital, GoGlobal) to foster a startup ecosystem.

3. Digital Public Services and Marketplace (Original: $9M | Revised Total: $25M) This component, which receives the bulk of the Additional Financing, focuses on digitizing government services (G2G, G2B, G2P).

  • Consular Portal: A major success story funded by the project. It digitized consular services for the diaspora, reducing processing times for electronic documents by 85%.
  • Single Government Portal (Portal Único): A key focus of the Additional Financing is to centralize all digital public services into a single window to reduce bureaucracy.
  • Digital Identification: Strengthening the SNIAC (National System of Identification and Civil Authentication) and the Mobile Digital Key (Chave Móvel Digital) to facilitate secure online transactions.
  • Other Platforms: Includes the Single External Trade System (JUCE) and cloud blockchain platforms.