WFP Mauritania Country Overview, June 2024 – Mauritania

In figures

79,665 vulnerable people helped

28,130 tons of food distributed

US$852,850 in cash transferred

Net financing requirement of US$25.9 million for the six-month period (July – December 2024)

Operational updates

Refugee response in Mbera refugee camp: In June, WFP provided cash assistance to 74,558 people (of whom 52,471 were women), in addition to providing specialized nutritious food to 553 children aged 6 to 59 months (of whom 270 were girls) and 267 pregnant and lactating women and girls to treat moderate acute malnutrition. Response to the 2024 lean season: In preparation for the 2024 lean season, WFP completed the targeting and verification of households in Kankossa, a department of Assaba Region, and finalized the list of beneficiaries and the distribution plan for the first cycle.

Integrated Resilience Package (IRP)

School feeding: WFP activities continued during the summer holidays by formalizing the design of the cash-in-school pilot, raising technical assistance for the Ministry of Education, holding workshops to promote the National School Feeding Programme (PRONAS, in French) and preparing for the upcoming school year. Treatment of moderate acute malnutrition: WFP provided specialized nutritious foods (RUSF and Super Cereal) to 4,509 children aged 6 to 59 months (2,619 girls) and 119 pregnant and lactating women and girls in 156 outpatient nutritional rehabilitation centres for moderate malnutrition (CRENAMs, in French). WFP ensures that beneficiaries are fully informed on how to use the supplements provided correctly and how they contribute to improving their nutritional status. This awareness-raising is intended to increase understanding, increase compliance and ensure the success of the MAM treatment programme. Food Assistance for Resources (FFA): WFP has signed Field Level Agreements (FLAs) with its collaborating partners from June 2024 to May 2025. From 25 to 28 June, WFP organised a capacity building workshop for partners on the implementation of the Integrated Resilience Package (IRP).

From 4 to 5 June, WFP organised a gender workshop on the Roadmap for mainstreaming gender in the IRP. The Roadmap aims to integrate a transformative gender approach into all components of the IRP. In addition, from 10 to 15 June, WFP and its collaborating partners (ADICOR and COOPI in Hodh El Chargui, AU SECOURS in Assaba, Tenmiya and GRADD in Guidimakha) carried out a joint mission in Guidimakha on the State’s decentralised technical services (the Regional Delegation for Agriculture, Environment and the Commission for Food Safety (CSA, in French). The mission provided an opportunity to monitor the status of implementation of the latest operational plan (a comprehensive planning document with planned field activities, associated budget, timelines and specific project locations) covering the period from November 2023 to April 2024 and to make recommendations on the quality of the assets.

Capacity building: During the month of June, WFP made significant progress in supporting the National Food and Nutrition Crisis Response Mechanism (DCAN, in French), in particular in the final phase of the data server (SAP) for the Food Safety Observatory (OSA, in French). WFP also explored the development of a social protection web portal for Mauritania by setting up a WFP-led working group. In collaboration with UNHCR, WFP is defining a roadmap to enable refugees to benefit from national social protection programmes. From 31 May to 5 June, WFP HQ conducted a support mission in the country to develop technical work plans aimed at improving early warning systems within the Anticipatory Action (AA) framework. The mission included briefing sessions with the WFP Country Office team on the AA portfolio and a working session with the AA and members of the Pan-African Disaster Risk Management (ARC) Technical Working Group to gather information on the SAP.

Gender: WFP held a capacity building workshop with its collaborating partners for the IRP from 25 to 28 June. Participants were trained on assessing the capacities of collaborating partners in protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) and their skills in PEAS were assessed before signing contracts. In addition, ongoing training sessions on gender and protection issues are organised throughout the year, together with monthly coordination meetings, for the Gender and Protection Focal Points (GPFP).

The United Nations Humanitarian Aviation Service (UNHAS) transported 131 passengers and 247 kg of cargo from Nouakchott to Bassikounou, Kiffa and Nema via 22 domestic flights.