Mauritania

Although it has made significant improvements in reducing poverty and chronic malnutrition, Mauritania’s rapidly growing population still faces major challenges including hunger, malnutrition, gender inequality and land degradation.
WFP/Agron Dragaj

Vulnerable to Climate

Just under one quarter of the population lives in poverty. Nearly 1 million people were epxected to be severely hungry during the peak of the June – August 2022 lean season.

With 90% of agricultural production subsistence-based, large numbers of people are vulnerable to the effects of events such as droughts, floods and locust invasions, all of which are made worse by rapid soil erosion and desertification due to climate change. A series of major droughts in 2011, 2014, 2017 and 2018 weakened communities and damaged ecosystems, forcing many to cope by eating less or selling livestock at less than its market value.

Mauritania continues to host the largest number of Malian refugees in West Africa. The security conditions in Mali remain volatile, resulting in a continuous refugee influx to Mauritania. As of June 2022, 79,610 refugees were registered by UNHCR in and around the Mbera camp.

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WFP/Agron Dragaj
Make a difference in Mauritania

WFP’s Work in Mauritania

WFP has been working in Mauritania since 1964, providing relief assistance, livelihood support and humanitarian air services. Today, WFP is addressing the root causes of hunger through programs including:
WF1404471_Photo_groupe_drone-_Reunion-Gourmel-06_novembre_2021-enHaut-DJI_0553
Emergency Relief
WFP ensures that crisis-affected people have enough food. The agency assists assisting vulnerable, hungry Mauritanian households during the lean season and 65,000 Malian refugees all year around through general food assistance, school meals and nutrition support. In the refugee camp, WFP is gradually shifting towards more sustainable and livelihood-oriented assistance through the promotion of refugee self-reliance.
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Woman in purple headscarf working in field
Small-Scale Farming
WFP helps communities adapt to climate change and reduce exposure to natural shocks. The agency develops sustainable food production systems so that livelihoods are more resilient to the effects of climate-related crisis. WFP supports small-scale farmers to sustainably increase their crop production, reduce post-harvest losses and participate in markets.
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Mauritania, Kaédi, Belinabe village, May 2015

Enrolment in primary school is nearly universal, but retention remains a problem. The percentage of boys completing basic education (42 percent) is higher than that for girls (34 percent). A recent Ministry of Education report indicates that the retention rate is significantly higher in primary school supported by the WFP School Meals Programme (61 percent).
WFP provides school meals to over 150,000 children in areas with high rates of food insecurity and low rates of school attendance or retention.
In the Belinabe village, school managers and parents created a vegetable garden in order to combine school meals with fresh vegetables. This primary school has 336 students, with 207 girls attending classes.

In the photo: Children eat dates provided by Saudi Arabia.

Photo: WFP/Agron Dragaj
 *** Local Caption *** The photo must be credited as follows:
WFP/Agron Dragaj
School Meals
In partnership with the Mauritanian government, WFP aims to distribute daily morning snacks and lunches to 50,000 primary schoolchildren, especially in rural areas where school attendance and retention rates are low and hunger, malnutrition and poverty are high. Additional services are delivered in schools including communication on nutrition, hygiene and family practices.
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Lastest News

WFP Kicks off Major Lean Season Response in West Africa Amid Dwindling Funding for Humanitarian Operations