"Jobs that change lives": In Mauritania, prospects for a better life are now within reach for many young people
When one thinks of Mauritania, the first thing that comes to mind is its sumptuous sand dunes, its emblematic nomadic camel-breeding tribes, and its beautiful Atlantic coastline.
But Mauritania is much more than that…
This relatively unknown country abounds in wealth and beauty, with important mineral deposits, some of the fishiest waters in the world, and a cultural, linguistic and ethnic diversity that makes it further unique.
In the 1970s and 1980s, 90% of Mauritania's population was nomadic. But the country has changed since then. Today, it mainly draws its wealth from fishing and mining activities and heavily invests in renewable energy.
Tremendous challenges remain, however: high rates of poverty, illiteracy and unemployment, food insecurity, a lack of infrastructure, and insufficient jobs for the Malian refugees who fled the conflict in Northern Mali in 2012.
And that's not all, as Mauritania suffers severe climate change effects that increase the risk of food insecurity and conflict. Not to mention the COVID-19 pandemic, which has deteriorated the living conditions and well-being of its population.
One way to help Mauritania move forward on the path to sustainable growth and shared prosperity is to help those furthest left behind access decent jobs. That is what ILO has been doing with the Mauritanian Government, UNHCR, the European Union, the French Development Agency and the U.S. Department of State, in two key economic sectors: construction and artisanal fishing.
"Des emplois qui changent des vies" (in English: "Jobs that change lives") is a virtual exhibition highlighting the experience of dozens of young beneficiaries who have taken a new and decisive turn in their lives thanks to UN’s support…
“Chantier Ecole”: A proven empowering methodology
"Chantier Ecole" (can be translated as “The Education Project”) is a mechanism that benefits young people who have not succeeded in the traditional school system. It offers them a professional training based on construction or infrastructure maintenance activities (schools, training centers, agri-food centers, equipped landing points for artisanal fishing, etc.) and provides them with socio-professional support.
The “Chantier Ecole” pedagogical method combines practical training in a real work environment with the acquisition of life skills and employability skills.
In addition to building the capacity of initially low-skilled youth to help them find decent and lasting jobs, the “Chantier Ecole” scheme enables local SMEs to grow by building upon strengthened capacities.
Haby is determined and ambitious. She started with a training in topography and later created her own company thanks to this training methodology. Today, she opens up new business opportunities and employs several people.
One of the main strengths of the “Chantier Ecole” projects is that it delivers a State-recognized certification that allows young trainees to attest to the skills they have acquired.
Fostering access to decent jobs in the construction sector: The PECOBAT Programme
Thanks to the “Chantier Ecole” training methodology, the PECOBAT programme makes it possible to build schools using raw earth, a material widely available locally, inexpensive and ideal for regulating the temperature in the extreme climatic conditions that the country experiences.
PECOBAT projects also use traditional know-how to promote eco-construction. Women of the cooperative of "Femmes Potières de Yirla" (in English: “Women Potters of Yirla”), in M'Bahé, make pieces that improve the thermal quality of schools in periods of high heat, using ancestral craft techniques.
Among the communities benefiting from these projects is the M'Bera Refugee Camp located in the Hodh El Chargui region, Bassikounou Moughataa, in the southeast of the country, where ILO and UNHCR are working to empower people and foster peaceful coexistence between refugees and host communities.
Harnessing the tremendous potential of artisanal fisheries: The PROMOPÊCHE Programme
The projects developed under this programme are designed to train professionals in the artisanal fisheries sector, including fishermen, mechanics, carpenters, agents for the processing and classification of fishery products, again using the “Chantier Ecole” methodology.
They are mainly targeted at migrants and young people from poor backgrounds. Access to a 4-to-6 month training course such as the one proposed in this scheme offers them a chance to join the fisheries labour market.
In Mauritania, underprivileged youth and migrants build their life paths with remarkable courage and resilience. Because they must not be left behind, like other vulnerable populations, the UN will continue to stand by their side to help them fulfill their aspirations.
To find out about the stories of more beneficiaries, please visit this article posted by the UN in Mauritania. To see more of the stunning images of the “Jobs that Change Lives” virtual exhibition, please visit ILO’s dedicated website.
Written by the Development Coordination Office (DCO), originally in French, using project-related information and photos provided by ILO, to whom we address our special thanks. Translated to English by DCO. To learn more about the UN's work in Mauritania, please visit: https://mauritania.un.org/. To learn more about the results of our work in this area and beyond, please read the UNSDG Chair Report on DCO.