Contributions discuss the experiences of the citizens of Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique and Sao Tome and Principe. and suggest some answers to the challenges they face. Each of the authors presents studies that carefully examine the political, social and economic context. They suggest that the progress made in recent decades in women's rights and empowerment, democratic governance, Human rights, access to employment, education and health, are still very modest. They conclude that it is therefore imperative that dynamic and informed social movements promote more effective and sustainable transformation and development processes.