Deadline: 21-Oct-2025
The World Food Programme (WFP) has launched a new initiative in Hodh ech Chargui, Mauritania, focused on advancing livelihood opportunities and durable solutions for refugees and host communities in Bassikounou.
This project seeks to reduce dependence on humanitarian assistance by empowering vulnerable groups—particularly women—to build sustainable sources of income and improve household resilience.
The program’s general objective is to reduce refugee women’s reliance on aid through targeted empowerment and self-reliance activities. By providing access to livelihood opportunities and cash-based support, WFP aims to strengthen the economic independence of refugees while enhancing social and economic integration with host communities.
The initiative has two key outcomes. The first focuses on ensuring that vulnerable refugee and host households have reliable access to food, creating the stability needed to pursue income-generating activities. Currently, over 80% of refugee household income is spent on food, leaving little room for investment in livelihood development. By improving access to adequate nutrition and cash assistance, the program creates an enabling environment where families can shift their focus from short-term survival to long-term growth and self-sufficiency.
The second outcome seeks to enable sustainable income generation for both refugees and host community members. Through tailored training, capacity-building programs, and support for small-scale economic ventures—such as animal production, community mobilization, and vocational initiatives—the project will assist 200 households in rebuilding livelihoods and achieving economic stability. This approach ensures that families can meet their basic needs while engaging in dignified, productive work that benefits the wider community.
By integrating cash and voucher assistance with livelihood development, WFP aims to promote resilience and reduce the chronic vulnerability of displaced and host populations in Bassikounou. The project also supports broader national and regional efforts to foster durable solutions through reintegration and social cohesion, ultimately contributing to a more self-reliant and inclusive future for refugees and their host communities in Mauritania.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.