Overview

The Community of Portuguese Language Countries Comunidade dos Paises de Lingua Portuguesa (CPLP), is a multilateral forum for mutual friendship between the lusophone nations across the world. CPLP was formed in 1996 with seven countries: Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and São Tomé and Príncipe. Timor-Leste joined the community in 2002.

The three general objectives, as defined in the Community bylaws, are: political and diplomatic coordination among its members; economic, social, cultural, legal, technical and scientific cooperation; and promotion and diffusion of the Portuguese language. The Organization’s Executive Secretariat is responsible for designing CPLP´s projects and initiatives.

The main initiatives of CPLP, in recent years, have been: 

• the reform of the International Portuguese Language Institute (IILP), Praia, Cape Verde, which has become an institution of the Community;
• CPLP´s HIV-Aids Program, designed to help the 5 African member states;
• Centre for the Development of Entrepreneurial Skills, Luanda, Angola;
• Centre for the Development of Public Administration, Maputo, Mozambique;
• Conference on Malaria;
• Electoral Mission to African member states;
• Emergency Project for the Support of Institution Rebuilding in Guinea-Bissau;
• Capacity building in the preparation, analysis, and monitoring of development projects and programmes in the five African member states and Timor-Leste.

The Community’s work also encompasses ‘traditional’ development activities, such as capacity building, and technical projects in specific areas, such as health, education, and public administration.

In Africa, Portuguese is the official language of: Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique and São Tomé and Príncipe. In Portuguese the group is commonly referred to by the acronym PALOP, a colloquial acronym which means African Countries of Portuguese Official Language (Portuguese: Países Africanos de Língua Oficial Portuguesa), PALOP is a branch of CPLP.

Statistical Activities

PALOP receives assistance from EC to strengthen statistical systems of the five African states.

Received 2008. Update 2010 Pending