Multi-Year Assistance Program

Mauritania, a country that is 80 percent barren desert, experiences chronic food insecurity and malnutrition, mostly in southern and southeastern areas. Making matters worse, the country is characterized by droughts, few natural resources and widespread deforestation. Rising costs of cereal and other food staples have caused several food crises over the last decade, making access to affordable, abundant, nutritious supplies of food even more problematic.

To try and avert recurring shocks and boost food security, Counterpart International (Counterpart) is implementing a U.S. Agency for International Development Multi-Year Assistance Program to: (a) improve maternal and child health and nutrition practices and services; (b) build the capacity of micro-credit institutions and establishing a micro-credit fund; (c) provide livestock services through pastoral cooperative associations; and (d) undertake community mobilization and planning activities to build community capacity to identify and mitigate issues affecting their food security.

Approximately 34,000 smallholder farmers and other direct beneficiaries and 90,000 indirect beneficiaries are targeted in four of the most vulnerable and remote regions of the country - Gorgol, Guidimaka, Assaba and Hodh El Gharbi.

Recent Highlights:

• Made $250,000 in 280 direct loans to women's cooperatives and microenterprises, benefiting approximately 3,500 micro-entrepreneurs, 75 percent of which are women. 
• In partnership with the Ministry of Health, Counterpart treats more than 11,000 children with vitamin A and de-worming treatment. Nearly 600 health workers have been trained; they are now using their skills in their own communities. 
• Trained communities to produce dried cheese which can be stored for a nutrient dense food source during the dry, food insecure season.

To learn more about Counterpart's Multi-Year Assistance Program in Mauritania, please read the following feature stories:

Encouraging Hygiene Through School Latrines

Veterinary Assistants Training

Photos: © Counterpart International.