Food availability and access are two major concerns for Mauritania’s population; the country has been facing drought exacerbated by climate change which has resulted in a chronic food deficit. Over the past five years, food insecurity rates have hovered between 25 to 30% in the lean season. In the 2020 Global Hunger Index (GHI), Mauritania ranks 85th out of 107 countries. With a score of 24.0, Mauritania has a level of hunger that is classified as serious.

The Government of Mauritania recognizes that child hunger and malnutrition is also an education problem and prioritized school-based feeding as an important element in its plan to make critical development gains. With the support of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Mauritania is making progress in meeting key targets for maternal and child nutrition and education outcomes.