Nouakchott — A delegation from the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA, Office for North Africa) embarked on a one week visit to Mauritania, to meet high level officials from the Ministries of Economy and Finance, Energy and Agriculture, Environment and Sustainable Development, as well as the National Statistical Office and the National Agency for the Promotion of Youth Employment.
During the week, a workshop was held on 11 April, in partnership with the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Discussions focused on outlining the process for the production of the first progress report on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Maghreb countries. This report was initiated in partnership with the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA) and will cover, in addition to Mauritania, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia.
"This report will be produced within the framework of the global follow-up process for SDG implementation. It will enable us to assess existing progress, national and regional challenges and good practices. It will also allow us to make strategic recommendations on how to improve coherence in implementing future regional policies on sustainable development", said Omar Abdourahman, interim Director at the ECA office for North Africa.
The delegation is also pursuing consultations initiated in February with the Mauritanian Statistical Office to boost their capacity to collect and analyze economic, social and environmental data. This will make it possible to monitor more precisely, unemployment and foreign trade as well as economic growth (through setting up a new System of National Accounts). The Statistical office would also facilitate the adaptation of the national statistical system within the SDG follow up requirements.
The ECA office for North Africa also presented the latest ECA publications, which included the Mauritania Country Profile and the 2017 Economic report on Africa which examines interactions between urbanization and industrialization.
Note to editors
ECA is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Its Office for North Africa aims to support the development of seven countries across the sub region (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, Tunisia and Sudan) by helping them formulate and implement policies and programs that support their economic and social transformation.
Communication Team
Economic Commission for Africa
Office for North Africa
Tel: +212 (0) 537 548 749
