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  Mauritania  

Facts and Figures

IOM Member State since 2003

Capital: Nouakchott
Population (2011): 3.5 million
Area: 1.04 million sq km
Major Languages: Arabic (official), French, others
Currency: Ouguiya (MRO)
GDP per Capita PPP (2010): USD 1,944
HDI Rank (2011): 159 of 187
Remittances (2011 estimate): not available
Net Migration Rate (2010-2015):  -1.1 migrants /1,000 population
Immigrants (2010): 2.9%
Women as a Percentage of Immigrants (2010): 42.2%
Population under 15 (2011): 39.7%
Adult HIV Prevalence (2009): 1%



Sources and Definitions

Overview

Mauritania is a vast territory with more than 5,000 km of borders, with a long-standing tradition of migration and hospitality. Due to its geographical position, the country has become an important transit site for migratory movements, particularly for irregular migrants en route to Europe. Controlling the vast maritime and land borders remains a major challenge for the state, as does the provision of assistance to migrants in its territory. Government authorities have expressed their request to IOM for support with migration management. In response, IOM is developing a comprehensive approach designed to reinforce the capacities of the concerned government institutions.

Migration Health

IOM collaborates with Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) working with young people in order to increase their HIV/AIDS awareness in border regions and other regions with highly mobile populations in Senegal, Guinea, Mali and Mauritania.

Main Project

  • Reduction of HIV/AIDS vulnerability among the youth in regions with high mobility in West Africa

Migration and Development

Within the framework of the Migration and Development in Africa (MIDA) programme, a study was undertaken in areas of emigration in Mauritania aiming at analyzing the situation with regard to migration and development and at understanding the consequences of emigration for the women left behind in these areas. The study also identifies economic opportunities for women and explores ways to involve the Mauritanian Diaspora in the development of these areas. A database of investment opportunities in areas of emigration has been installed in the State Secretariat for the Promotion of Women. A follow-up project is being developed with the aim to facilitate the use of the resources of the Diaspora for development.

Main Project

  • Integrated pilot project for the socio-economic development to fight against poverty and for the stabilization of internal migration in Mauritania

Regulating Migration

IOM implemented a six-month project funded by the European Commission with the following main components:

  • Immigration inspection and border control
  • Training courses for prosecutors and judges
  • Assisted Voluntary Returns of stranded Asian migrants willing to return voluntarily to their countries of origin

As a continuation, another project on migration management, which was delayed by the political situation in the country, is now being implemented. Its main components, aiming at the reinforcement of the institutional capacities of the State, are the following:

  • Support to the development of a national migration management policy
  • Implementation of technical assistance programmes linked to border management and travel documents control
  • Support to the services of Magistracy and judicial structures

Other initiatives aim to create awareness on the dangers of irregular migration, convey an approach to migration and development through education, and inform on opportunities to develop income-generating activities.

Main Project

  • Migration Management in Mauritania

Labour Migration

IOM implemented a one-year project to reinforce the capacities of the Mauritanian government to effectively manage labour migration. The main components of the project were:

  • Assessment of the national labour migration policies, legislation and practices. The assessment included an overview of the existing data and statistics on labour migration flows, as well as an evaluation of the current institutional, legal and policy framework governing the management of labour migration at the national and bilateral level.
  • Training for Government officials on the management of labour migration.
  • Study Trip to Morocco with the aim to exchange best practices and share experiences as regards to labour migration management.

Main Project

  • Promoting the effective management of labour migration in Mauritania

Migration Policy and Research

IOM implemented a 24-month programme with the objective of mapping and standardizing statistical migration data collection in 10 countries in West and Central Africa and training government officials in Migration Management and Migration Policy development. The programme targeted the following countries primarily: Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with Cape Verde and Cameroon as observers. The study is available here: http://publications.iom.int/bookstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7&products_id=534&zenid=40780ef803e41a21be6f492738860e56

Main Project

  • Migration in West and Central Africa: National Profiles for Strategic Policy Development


Last updated:
Main text: July 2010
Facts and figures: May 2012