Promoting youth employment opportunities for refugees and host community with employment-intensive construction works in Mauritania

The project aims at promoting economic self-sufficiency of refugees and peaceful coexistence with host communities through the development of employability schemes and decent jobs in labour-based infrastructure construction works. In the context of protracted displacement, the project addresses the humanitarian-development nexus by 1) creating immediate income generating activities and thus ensuring human security of refugees and host communities, and 2) ensuring sustainable employment creation by offering technical and vocational skills development with “on-site construction training” which focuses on practical learning at the actual construction sites and by promoting the use of locally available resources. In doing so, it will ease tensions between refugees and host communities. The project aims at unlocking the peace and developmental potential of decent work opportunities. This approach builds on existing research showing that employment can provide the maximum impact on developing sustainable peace and mitigating risks of terrorism and violent activities when it offers 1) Opportunities of learning and working, 2) Belongingness to society by participating in socioeconomic activities, and 3) Spaces to develop mutual understanding. Employment can contribute to peace when it supports young people in perceiving hope for their future without experiencing inequality and injustice. The project contributes to building peace and social stability by promoting a decent work environment including appropriate working conditions, occupational safety and health and non-discrimination at work.

Project symbol

MRT/19/01/JPN

Admin unit

CO-Algiers

Start date

01/04/2019

End date

31/07/2020

Total allocation

997512

Total expenditure

Status

Closed

997512

Development Partners

Japan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Country/Countries

Mauritania

Outcomes

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