Strengthening nutrition approaches in rural development programmes in Mauritania

Mauritania faces the triple burden of malnutrition: stunting (24.2% in 2020), wasting (11.5% in 2018), and rising obesity and chronic diseases. However, improving diets and nutrition remains insufficiently integrated into development programmes.

In this context, a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) exercise was conducted to draw lessons from EU-funded rural development interventions. The study aimed to identify success factors, limitations, and obstacles to better integrating nutrition into programmes.

The findings revealed low nutrition sensitivity of programmes, limited capacities among stakeholders, weak institutional coordination, unexploited opportunities, and a lack of beneficiary targeting based on nutritional vulnerability.

At the request of the Delegation of the European Union (EUD) in Mauritania, the Nutrition Research Facility (NRF) provided technical assistance for the monitoring and evaluation of the RIMRAP programme (Renforcement Institutionnel vers la Résilience Agricole et Pastorale), financed by the EU.

Conducted between October 2021 and May 2022, the study relied on:

• A desk review of the Multisectoral Strategic Plan for Nutrition 2016–2025, RIMRAP evaluation reports, financing agreements, and activity reports.

• Interviews with key informants involved in programme implementation to assess the level of nutrition integration.

The analysis of RIMRAP highlighted several limitations that reduced its potential impact on nutrition:

• Low sensitivity to nutrition and diet quality: RIMRAP was designed primarily from an institutional and rural development perspective, without incorporating a causal analysis of food and nutrition insecurity or explicit nutrition objectives.

• Limited capacities and knowledge: Most stakeholders lacked technical knowledge and skills in nutrition, which hindered the integration of nutrition-sensitive actions into operational activities.

• Weak institutional coordination: Governance arrangements were not conducive to multisectoral coordination. The National Nutrition Development Council (CNDN) was not fully functional during RIMRAP implementation. However, the context has recently evolved, with a new decree issued in March 2022 redefining the CNDN’s role.

• Unexploited opportunities: RIMRAP’s operational activities (market gardening, livestock support, emergency responses) had strong potential for improving nutrition but were underused due to partners’ limited understanding of nutrition-sensitive strategies.

• Insufficient targeting and monitoring: The programme lacked nutrition indicators and targeting criteria based on nutritional or socioeconomic vulnerability, limiting the ability to assess real effects on the most at-risk groups.

The recommendations aim to make future EU programmes more effective and nutrition-sensitive:

1. Raise awareness, inform, and train a critical mass of stakeholders (government agents, technicians, implementing partners) on nutrition-sensitive agricultural approaches and on dietary quality and diversity, in collaboration with Mauritanian academic institutions.

2. Strengthen institutional capacities within the rural development sector and support the establishment and functioning of multisectoral coordination platforms for nutrition (CNDN) at national and regional levels.

3. Ensure that nutrition is an explicit and measurable objective of rural development actions by integrating relevant nutrition indicators—particularly at the individual level (women and young children)—into logical frameworks.

4. Link crisis prevention and management with economic promotion (graduation approach) by leveraging institutionalised social safety nets and the Unified Social Registry to target the most vulnerable households.

It is necessary to strengthen the understanding of dietary practices and nutritional deficiencies through an in-depth food consumption survey. Existing diagnostics should be complemented by health and child feeding data to better identify the causes of malnutrition.

Improving micronutrient intake through agriculture also requires a better understanding of vulnerable groups’ needs and the nutritional value of supported agricultural products.

This study contributes to raising awareness among stakeholders about the importance of integrating nutrition into agricultural and rural programmes. It supports the promotion of more resilient, sustainable, and healthy food systems, strengthens national governance, and fosters better coordinated investments in line with the EU’s Global Gateway strategy.

Main contact: Carl Lachat

Organisation: Gent University

Email address: Carl.Lachat@UGent.be