Northern Mauritania faces desertification due to climate change, accelerating sand dune encroachment into farmlands and settlements. Water sources are drying up, pressure is increasing on limited resources, critical infrastructure is inundated by sand, and entire villages have been displaced in some cases. Without urgent action, the Sahara Desert is projected to advance southwards into Mauritania’s most fertile Sahelian zones.

The project aims to enhance climate resilience among vulnerable communities and ecosystems in northern Mauritania by reducing the impacts of climate change-induced desertification in the Sahara-Sahel boundary, enhancing water and livelihood security, and promoting sustainable land use through ecosystem-based adaptation, dune fixation, water resource management, and diversified climate-resilient livelihoods. As approximately 50 per cent of the beneficiaries are women, the project ensures female representation and has income-generating activities that empower women.

Key activities include strengthening governance and coordination for climate adaptation; improving water access and management; supporting climate-resilient livelihoods by promoting climate-smart agriculture and alternative income-generating activities; facilitating community-led adaptation through a Small Grants Facility; and enhancing knowledge generation and dissemination.

The Mauritanian Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development will lead implementation, ensuring alignment with national plans. The project also promotes Locally Led Climate Action by actively involving communities in decision-making and ensuring context-specific, sustainable climate resilience.

Strengthening the resilience of ecosystems and populations in four regional hubs in northern Mauritania

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Mauritania

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An aim to achieve a quantifiable outcome within a given time-frame, set by an institution such as a national government.

Policy instruments are techniques or tools used by governing authorities to promote certain policies in order to achieve predetermined goals. Put simply, instruments are how a government tries to achieve its goals, with this taxonomy being focused on national policy instruments.

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People who are less able to respond to the effects of climate change due to having limited financial or physical assets

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Financial support to help individuals manage the effects of unexpected events, securing their livelihoods and increasing the resilience of people and businesses to the changing climate. It’s especially vital in developing regions where everyday risks, climate-related weather extremes, or crop failures can push people into poverty. Without insurance, people may have to resort to selling assets or cutting consumption to cope with losses.

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Extreme weather refers to events where a weather variable exceeds (or falls below) a threshold. Meaning it is significantly different from the average or usual weather pattern.

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Work that is productive and delivers a fair income, security in the workplace and social protection for all, better prospects for personal development and social integration, freedom for people to express their concerns, organize and participate in the decisions that affect their lives and equality of opportunity.

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People who have left their homes, whether through force, voluntarily, or a mixture of both

woman and genders outside of the gender binary

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the fair distribution of risks and opportunities of climate change and the transition to a regenerative economy, cognisant in particular of disproportionate impacts on vulnerable communities and the working class

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Climate change impacts our society by disrupting the natural, economic and social systems we depend on. Physical hazards and underlying vulnerabilities can lead to increased resource competition for food and water, which can heighten the risk of conflict.

Slow onset events evolve gradually from incremental changes over many years or from increased frequency or intensity of recurring events. As defined in the Cancun Adaptation Framework (2010), slow onset events include risks and impacts from rising temperatures, desertification, biodiversity loss, land and forest degradation, glacial retreat, ocean acidification, sea level rise, and salinization.

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Strengthening the resilience of ecosystems and populations in four regional hubs in northern Mauritania

Target

Policy instrument

Risk

Impacted group

Just transition

Climate justice

Renewable energy

Fossil fuel

Greenhouse gas

Economic sector

Adaptation/resilience

Finance

Adaptation Fund

Climate Investment Funds

Green Climate Fund

Global Environment Facility