Mauritania Pushes for Increased Development Financing
Mauritania’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Development, Mohamedou Ahmedou Mhaimid, called for improved access to concessional and climate financing, stronger public-private partnerships, and more efficient use of development resources during a high-level ministerial meeting in Madrid, Spain, on Wednesday.
The meeting was held on the second day of the forum titled “Dialogue on Financing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Strengthening a Nationally Driven Approach.”
Discussions focused on implementing integrated national financing frameworks, translating development and climate priorities into concrete financial reforms and tangible results, and strengthening partnerships among the public and private sectors and international financial institutions, in line with the Seville Platform for Action.
In his address, Ould Mhaimid emphasized that development financing involves more than mobilizing additional financial resources. He stressed the importance of better coordination and more efficient use of available funding to drive economic transformation and improve living conditions.
He outlined Mauritania’s key priorities in this area, including strengthening national capacities in financial planning, project preparation, and public investment management.
The minister also highlighted the need to facilitate access to concessional and climate financing while improving coordination among international financial institutions, development banks, technical and financial partners, and the private sector.
He further emphasized the importance of mobilizing concessional climate financing and developing public-private partnerships to stimulate domestic and foreign investment, generate added value, and create jobs for young people.
Mr. Ould Mhaimid added that Mauritania was also working to improve the efficiency of social spending, develop human capital, and strengthen financial inclusion.
The forum is jointly organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Spanish government. It brings together ministers, international officials, representatives of international financial institutions, and development partners to explore ways to strengthen financing for sustainable development.