The Islamic Republic of Mauritania and the African Development Bank have signed three new financing agreements totaling nearly $30 million to boost climate resilience, improve sustainable water resource management, and promote women's entrepreneurship. The agreements were signed on Wednesday on the sidelines of the Bank's 2025 Annual Meetings in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
The first agreement, a $9.32 million grant from the Climate Action Window of the African Development Fund, targets gender-sensitive agriculture and women's entrepreneurship. The funds will support women-led cooperatives by financing the development and equipping of market garden perimeters. The initiative is expected to boost incomes, improve food security, and integrate climate-adaptive solutions.
A second agreement, worth $17.98 million, is a concessional loan under the Bank's Transition Support Facility for the 3R-Water Project. It aims to enhance access to rural water resources for domestic, productive, and ecosystem uses. It will focus on vulnerable rural communities, addressing both climate resilience and livelihood security in rural Mauritania.
The third agreement is a $1.9 million grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to support the implementation of the Stockholm and Minamata Conventions aimed at reducing hazardous pollutants such as persistent organic pollutants and mercury. The project will invest in national capacity building, the adoption of clean technology, and ecosystem protection.
These projects reflect the Bank's integrated approach, which combines local development, climate action, social inclusion, and regional cooperation. They utilize multiple financing mechanisms and foster synergy among national institutions, international partners, and local beneficiaries.
"By supporting women's entrepreneurship, sustainable water resource management, and the transition to a greener economy, these projects reflect our commitment to inclusive and resilient growth," said Mohamed El Azizi, Director General for North Africa at the African Development Bank. "They also illustrate the strength of the partnership between Mauritania, the Bank, and multilateral climate finance mechanisms."
The Ministries of Agriculture, Water, and Environment of Mauritania will implement the projects. Through these new commitments, the African Development Bank reaffirms its determination to support Mauritania on the path to sustainable, equitable, and resilient development.
