Mauritania

The Islamic Republic of Mauritania faces significant challenges stemming from its sparsely populated, arid landscape, which exacerbates food insecurity and malnutrition. Recurrent droughts and floods, intensified by climate change, leave more than 590,000 people vulnerable – representing 12 percent suffering from acute malnutrition during the 2025 lean season.

Mauritania relies heavily on agriculture and pastoralism. However, only 0.4 percent of its land is suitable for agriculture, further complicated by degraded environments and poor market infrastructure. This contributes to high poverty rates and unemployment, particularly in rural areas where 45 percent of the population resides.

The World Food Programme (WFP), working with the Government of Mauritania and partners, spearheads resilience-building efforts, like our food assistance-for-assets and school-meal activities. 

Mauritania also faces challenges as a host country for over 288,000 refugees and asylum seekers. Of these, 154,000 live in the Hodh Ech Chargui region and 118,000 in the Mbera camp, straining already limited resources. WFP's interventions provide a lifeline, offering support including food distributions and malnutrition services, with a focus on building self-reliance.

WFP aims to strengthen the resilience of households and communities vulnerable to climate and other shocks, particularly women and young people through the implementation of an integrated resilience package (IRP) A mainstay of WFP’s work involves the transition from direct implementation to enhanced capacity strengthening for the Government. Activities within WFP’s IRP fully align with the objectives outlined in the Government of Mauritania’s national strategies.  

WFP integrates gender-transformative approaches to empower women and promote equality in nutrition and community development initiatives.