Test Mauritania

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SAHEL REGION

MAURITANIA

Mauritania is considered an island of stability in a rough neighbourhood. Spillovers from latent and manifest conflicts threaten at its northern, southern, and eastern borders. The manifest conflicts at the eastern and southeast borders with Mali connect Mauritania to hubs of violent extremist groups, transnational crime, and illicit trafficking networks spanning across the Sahel and North Africa. The country experiences profound social, economic, and demographic mutations that rejuvenate generational conflicts and tensions. The depths of existing social fissures and socio-political tensions, pose conjugated challenges to Mauritania’s relative immunity to violent extremist attacks since 2012.

  • locationCreated with Sketch Beta.
  • Assaba
  • Guidimakha
  • Hodh ech Chargui
  • Hodh el Gharbi
Background and Context
Country Snapshot
Key Results
Investment Strategy
Story of Change
Background & Context

Understanding Violent
 Extremism in Mauritania

Mauritania is exposed to spillover effects from both latent and active conflicts along its northern, southern, and eastern borders. In particular, ongoing instability along the eastern and southeastern frontier with Mali links Mauritania to wider networks of violent extremist groups, transnational organised crime, and illicit trafficking across the Sahel and North Africa.

At the same time, the country is undergoing significant social, economic, and demographic transformations that are reshaping intergenerational dynamics and contributing to renewed social tensions. These underlying fissures, alongside broader socio-political pressures, present growing challenges to Mauritania’s relative resilience against violent extremist attacks, which it has largely avoided since 2012.

GCERF'S UNIQUE INVESTMENT MODEL

Country
 Support Mechanism

GCERF pioneers a unique model of investment designed to promote a whole-of-society approach and ensure the sustainability of our programmes. Under this model, in each partner country, we support national governments in establishing a steering committee called the Country Support Mechanism (CSM).

GCERF in Mauritania is working with the government, through the CSM, and bilateral and multilateral donors to ensure a coordinated approach to prevention. GCERF works with the Mauritanian government to support the implementation of its national action plan and invests in local organisations that design and run programmes contributing to stability and resilience.

Download Country Snapshot
Key Drivers of Violent Extremism
High levels of youth employment

High levels of youth unemployment remain a significant driver of violent extremism (VE) across the Central Sahel. Limited access to stable employment and livelihood opportunities leaves many young people economically vulnerable and socially marginalised, particularly in rural and conflict-affected areas. 

Recurrent farmer-herder conflicts

Competition over increasingly scarce natural resources—particularly land, water, and grazing areas—has intensified due to population growth, climate change, and environmental degradation. In the absence of effective conflict-resolution mechanisms and adequate state presence, It can quickly escalate into violent confrontations. Extremist groups often exploit these tensions.

Longstanding governance-related grievances

For decades, many communities have experienced a deep sense of marginalisation, fuelled by weak state presence, limited access to basic public services, corruption, and low levels of trust in national and local institutions. This has undermined the social contract between citizens and the state. Extremist groups frequently exploit these grievances.

Results at a Glance

Key Results

Total amount invested (USD)
$ 0 M
Grants
0
Civil society organisations
0
Community members trained on PVE, conflict sensitivity, critical thinking and conflict resolution skills
0
Individuals trained on civic education, Human Rights and the rule of law
0
Individuals received professional training and livelihood support to strengthen their economic resilience against violent extremism
0
community members engaged in cultural and sports activities
0

Investment & grant figures updated May 2026 · Programme results updated December 2025

Our Approach

Investment Strategy
 in Mauritania

Community trust icon
Promote preventive approaches to radicalisation and violent extremism
Design sans titre
Create enabling environments for de-radicalisation
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Support the incubation of coordinated local PVE communities championing the Mauritanian model
Our IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS

Active Grants in Mauritania

Current Grants 3 Active
01 Appui au Développement Intégré des Communautés Rurales
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Grant Overview
Amount
USD 900,000
Duration
Jan 2024 – Jun 2026
Implementing Partners
Principal Recipient
Appui au Développement Intégré des Communautés Rurales (ADICOR)
Sub-Recipients
Union pour le développement
Centre Tafa
Programme Objectives
1
Improve economic resources for subsistence.
2
Strengthen the community resilience mechanism.
3
Improve the socio-political inclusion of young people.
Areas of Implementation
Hodh ech Chargui Hodh el Gharbi
02 Eco-Développement
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Grant Overview
Amount
USD 990,000
Duration
Nov 2023 – Apr 2026
Implementing Partners
Principal Recipient
Eco-Développement (ECODEV)
Sub-Recipients
CellRAD
SOS Exclus
Programme Objectives
1
Promote the national PVE system.
2
Provide training and financial support to Mahadra graduates.
3
Provide economical support to women and agropastoralists.
4
Support CSOs and consultation bodies.
Areas of Implementation
Hodh ech Chargui
03 Bienfaisance sans frontières
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Grant Overview
Amount
USD 503,000
Duration
Dec 2024 – Jul 2026
Implementing Partners
Principal Recipient
Bienfaisance sans frontières (BSF)
Sub-Recipients
LCPSCV
AFVD
Programme Objectives
1
Set up community-driven alert systems on PVE; financial support & economical training for vulnerable groups; framework for exchange and discussion between CSOs.
2
Engage religious leaders to promote peace and sionsion; the population to ease intra and inter-community tensions.
Areas of Implementation
Touil ville Tachott 1, 2 and 3 Tenaha Hamoud Aioun
Impact in Action

Story of Change

Featured Story
Story of Change · Mauritania
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