Project Information

Project Title:
Educating Adolescent Girls in Mauritania -- Strengthening Community Development.

Objective/s/Goal:
The goal of this project is to support the Government’s efforts to eliminate gender inequality and regional disparities in education and improve future opportunities. It also aims to improve girls’ participation in the country’s political and economic life.

Implementing Agency/s: UNFPA, UNICEF, UNDP, WHO, UNAIDS

Status on Project Activities

The main focus of the project is to narrow the gender gap in education by retaining girls in middle and secondary schools long enough for them to acquire a fundamental education and develop skills (proficiency in French, computer use, mathematics. sciences and local languages, among others). It has energized communities and transformed the way local authorities view education.

Among other things the project has established specialized libraries at schools (with materials on reproductive health and rights), set up computer rooms and founded girls’ clubs. The clubs have launched a number of campaigns in project communities in an effort to sensitise parents and students about reproductive health issues, including how to prevent HIV/AIDS and STIs (sexually transmitted infections) and the need to delay marriage and allow girls to finish secondary school.