Henniya mint Teyib is one of over 200,000 households benefiting from the Tekavoul National Social Transfer Program in Mauritania, which addresses the country’s significant poverty challenges, with nearly 30% of the population living below the poverty line. The Mauritanian government launched the Social Safety Net System Support Project (PASyFiS 1) in 2015 as part of its National Social Protection Strategy, aiming to create a more inclusive and sustainable social protection model.
In 2017, the introduction of the Elmaouna shock-responsive safety net program marked an important shift, combining humanitarian and development strategies to better address the diverse needs of vulnerable populations. The establishment of the Taazour General Delegation for National Solidarity and the Fight against Exclusion in 2020 further amplified efforts to enhance adaptive social protection, focusing on investments that benefit future generations.
A critical aspect of this initiative is awareness-raising aimed at changing behaviors and breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty. Over 90% of cash transfer recipients are female heads of household, and the programs also provide access to credit and health care services. Additionally, the Youth Employability Project (YEP), initiated in 2021 alongside PASyFiS 1, has trained more than 12,000 young individuals, of whom 70% are women, helping to build human capital for future generations.
The Mauritanian government’s commitment is evident in program expansion: the number of beneficiary households surged from 47,000 in 2020 to over 100,000 today, with financial aid increasing from MRU 1,500 ($37) to MRU 3,600 ($90) per quarter. Furthermore, the Elmaouna program has supported over 131,000 households during droughts and floods, and extended assistance to 7,282 refugee households at the M’berra camp, benefiting over 40,192 individuals, thus providing crucial support to some of the country’s most vulnerable residents.
