It actually is tuned like a (bariton)-ukulele (D G B E).
But like a mandolin it has a big disadvantage in case you want to use it as a ukulele...
The neck is very narrow. Just 2.8cm on my cava compared to 3.5 on a concert ukulele (on top of fretboard).
0222 is close to impossible for me on the cava...
GCEA not an uncommon tuning for this instrument. Cavaquinho tuned higher than this, so increased tention with uke tuning not an issue. One way for a uke player to sound like a mandolin (more or less). Some research will indicate action often high and hard on the fingers, but fixable (lighter strings or lower action)