The overall objective of this project is to contribute to the generation of employment and the improvement of livelihoods of the female population in selected rural areas of Mauritania, with a view to mitigating the rural exodus. In order to set the stage for more concrete initiatives, a feasibility study will be undertaken in cooperation with the Government of Mauritania. Beyond a general assessment of the current situation with regard to migration and development issues in Mauritania, this feasibility study will identify viable opportunities for income generation and employment for female populations living in rural areas, as well as concrete proposals on how the Mauritanian diaspora, and Mauritanians who have moved from rural areas to the cities, could be involved more effectively in such economic development initiatives.
The project will enhance the capacity of the Government of Mauritania to develop policies to manage migration more effectively towards development goals. It will also have produced concrete project proposals for further action, including an assessment of donor interest.