Mauritania, World Bank Sign Agreement To Finance Senegal River Basin Development Support Project
On 14 March, in Nouakchott, Mr. Abdesselam Ould Mohamed Saleh, the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, signed with HE Ms. Cristina Santos, the Resident Representative of the World Bank to Mauritania, an agreement for financing the Project to support the development and resilience of the Senegal River basin.
This financing, provided by the International Development Association (IDA), amounts to 45 million US dollars, or approximately one billion seven hundred and eighty million Ouguiyas (MRU 1,780,000,000).
The Project aims to improve access of targeted border communities in the Senegal River basin region to regionally integrated and inclusive infrastructure and services capable of strengthening resilience to climate change.
During his speech on this occasion, Mr. Ould Mohamed Saleh stressed that this project covers several components, including support for social cohesion and the fight against conflicts and tensions, by financing activities that serve social cohesion and promote integration.
He added that the support provided by the project will cover many other areas such as afforestation and introduction of smart agricultural practices, flood control, rehabilitation of roads, bridges, sidewalks, level crossings, sewerage, and water and electricity networks, including public lighting, and the preparation of studies for future investments and local development plans.
The minister further clarified that the investments planned under this project aim to organize activities that promote social cohesion, such as the participation of young people in community cultural and sporting events, the encouragement of community volunteering and awareness of climate change, support for cross-border commercial activities, and the modernization of markets and infrastructure for social, cultural, sporting, and transport activities.
The World Bank representative to Mauritania said her institution is committed to promoting social inclusion, cohesion, and economic development by improving agricultural production, access to markets and services, institutional capacity, and resilience to climate change in the Senegal River basin.
HE Ms. Cristina Santos explained that the main interventions of the project focus on improving agricultural productivity, strengthening the capacities of women and youth, strengthening community organizations and social cohesion, and reducing waterborne diseases and the positive impact on the environment.
She added that this project is the first in a series focused on improving the socio-economic conditions of communities and that it will benefit more than a million people in Mauritania, particularly women, young people, and other stakeholders.