Mauritania Map

Mauritania

Mauritania is one of the poorest countries in the world, with 51 per cent of its people living below the poverty line. Other factors such as drought, urban migration, high unemployment and a heavy debt load hamper its socio-economic development.

There is a lack of quality education for girls and boys under 18, who comprise half of the country's population. Education has only recently been made compulsory and, for financial and social reasons, around 15 per cent of primary-school-age children do not attend schools. Only 14 per cent of girls attend secondary school. Compounding this problem is the fact that almost three out of four girls marry before they turn 18.

Mauritania made significant progress in the last decade in providing access to primary education for young people. However, improving access to, and the quality of, secondary schools remains a critical challenge.

UNICEF, UNFPA, UNDP and WHO, with the collaboration of the Ministry of Education in Mauritania, rose to meet the challenge by launching the Educating Adolescent Girls in Support of Community project in 2001. The initiative was directed at four of the poorest regions in Mauritania – Assaba, Brakna, Gorgol and Guidimakha – where enrolment of girls was low in both primary and secondary schools.

More information and activities on this project >>