UNHCR Environment and Climate Action in Hodh Chargui, South-East Mauritania

Mauritania is a Sahelian country that has long been affected by desertification and drought. The Sahel is one of the regions most impacted by climate change, with a projected temperature rise of 3ºC compared to the global average of 1.5ºC by 2050. Extreme temperatures and weather conditions associated with climate change have recently contributed to crop degradation and soil erosion in the south of the country and the oasis areas. Rural households living there are finding it increasingly difficult to sustain their livelihoods. The prolonged presence of refugees in Mbera camp in Hodh Chargui has also increased pressure on local sources of water, fuelwood and grazing land, creating potential sources of tension between refugees and host communities.

The Mauritanian Government, as well as humanitarian and development actors, have made environmental preservation and regeneration a central element of their strategies and initiatives. Mauritania has in fact developed a National Strategy for the Environment and Sustainable Development. The refugee-hosting region of Hodh Chargui has in turn aligned its Regional Strategy for Accelerated Growth and Shared Prosperity (SCAPP/SCRAPP) with this national environmental strategy, with the 2030 objective being to slow down environmental degradation and reverse trends so that sound natural resources management underpins green and inclusive growth. In complementarity with the Government, the United Nations is working to strengthen the resilience of ecosystems, communities and national systems in Hodh Chargui.

UNHCR, for its part, is specifically focused on (1) preserving and restoring natural resources, (2) providing clean and renewable energy, (3) promoting sustainable sanitation and waste treatment solutions, and (4) promoting a green economy.