Promoting a model for sustainable livelihoods and social cohesion in Bassikounou Moughata through on-site construction training

Sustainable local economic development in Bassikounou Moughata, an isolated and very poor region in south-east Mauretania, is indispensable for social cohesion considering the increasing number of Malian refugees in the region. Mbera Camp located in Bassikounou Moughata hosts more than 50,000 Malian refugees, where 96.0% of refugees in the country stay and receive humanitarian assistance since 2012. Despite the conclusion of a peace agreement in Mali in June 2015, large-scale returns of refugees are not yet expected due to the widespread insecurity in northern and central Mali. The Government of Mauritania continues to keep its borders open to new influxes, and there were 4,293 new arrivals from Mali while voluntary returns to Mali was limited to 713 in 2017. In January 2018 alone, the camp hosted 1,187 new arrivals (as of 31 Jan 2018, UNHCR). In this context, local communities and refugees in Bassikounou Moughata are in need of transition from short-term humanitarian assistance to the integration of mid-term socioeconomic development. Localization of economic activities, including promoting the use of local resources, creating local employment opportunities and responding to the climate change and local socioeconomic contexts, will be key to sustainable development. Young refugees and the local youth will be key players in this transition as the youth between the ages of 15-24 comprises 15.2% of the total population in Mbera Camp and more than 40% of the population in both Mbera Camp and Bassikounou are at the active working age (37.29% is between the age of 18-59 in Mbera Camp, 49% between the ages of 15-64 in Bassikounou). The project aims to achieve the following results: Objective 1. Young women and men from different communities, including both refugees and the local youth, improve employability and simultaneously gain work experience by completing on-site construction training in employment-intensive construction works which focuses on practical exercise and qualifies with certification. Objective 2. Infrastructures, identified as key for local economic development and services based on value-chain and market analysis, are constructed by the youth with the maximum use of local materials to create decent employment opportunities and promote local economic activities ensuring the nexus between humanitarian assistance and development. Objective 3. Local economic development is promoted by improved local enterprise support through better organization and participation of cooperatives, local groups, civil society and local enterprises.

Project symbol

MRT/18/02/USA

Admin unit

CO-Algiers

Start date

01/09/2018

End date

31/10/2020

Total allocation

982653

Total expenditure

Status

Closed

982653

Development Partners

USA, Department of State

Country/Countries

Mauritania

Outcomes

Outcome 5: Skills and lifelong learning to facilitate access to and transitions in the labour market