Mauritania's N4G commitment

Acute and recurrent malnutrition in Mauritania due to climatic changes in the Sahel region: according to recent data from the CFS and WFP, 11.7% of Mauritanian households experienced food insecurity in 2020, including 1.3% in a severe form. Data from a SMART survey (July 2021) revealed that 17% of children under five suffer from stunted development while 11.1% suffer from acute malnutrition of which 1.9% falls into the severe category. Similarly, according to the 2020 EDS data, children continue to suffer from significant micro-nutrient deficiencies with almost 80% of cases presenting anaemia. Ultimately, this situation raises questions about both the nutritional situation and the quality of life of urban and rural communities, which is likely to worsen in the short and medium term post COVID. To address this human development challenge, coherent and multisectoral action is required. This would involve improving the offer of health services; improving access to potable water, hygiene and sanitation; improving food security and equity in the food supply chain; providing social protection to the most vulnerable: designing and delivering effective education about nutrition; investing in public and commercial initiatives that improve nutrition and increase the diversity of household food production and consumption; promoting early childhood; strengthening governance and accountability with regard to nutrition; and addressing climate change, which exacerbates food insecurity in vulnerable areas.