Refugee Inclusion in the Government of Mauritania’s National Social Protection Programmes

The project is implemented by The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), in the Mbera Camp, Bassikounou Department, Mauritania. It started in February 2021 and the general targeting ended in December 2021. Complementary targeting takes place every 6 months after the registration of new arrivals by UNHCR. 

In collaboration with UNHCR, WFP is taking steps to ensure the inclusion of refugees into the national Social Registry and for a sub-set to ultimately be included in the Government's regular social cash transfer programme, Tekavoul.

The main goals of the project are: 

• Providing assistance to the most vulnerable to ensure their food needs (2100 kcal per day).
• Inclusion of the extremely vulnerable group (group 1) in the government's social protection program.

The nutrition centre helped me and my children a lot. WFP trains us and raises our awareness on hygiene and cleanliness. 

Mariama, Refugee in the Mbera camp

Main activities of the Good Practice

• Organization of briefings for authorities, humanitarian agencies and NGOs, information meetings
  with camp leaders.
• Development of awareness-raising messages: training of partners in charge of awareness-raising.
• Raising awareness among refugees.
• Data collection by Social Registry surveyors, under the supervision of UNHCR and WFP.
• Data processing by the Social Registry and categorization of refugees into 3 groups by the HUB in collaboration with PAM and UNHCR.
• Notification of results to refugees.
• Receipt of claims (groups 2 and 3).
• Processing of claims by the Social Register.
• Final notification of categorization (groups 1, 2 and 3).

Elements which helped facilitate the implementation of the good practice

The involvement of the government (Social Register) has facilitated this good practice.

Partners involved

• CSA
• Social Register
• WFP
• UNHCR
• Action Against Hunger
• Save The Children

What challenges were encountered in delivering the project and how were they overcome?

Challenges

• After the final notification, some refugees continued to contest the category in which they had been classified.
• The periodicity of targeting is not clearly defined by the Social Registry.
• High refugee mobility: although the field teams visited all the villages supposedly hosting refugees outside the camp, some refugees were not present at the time of targeting and therefore could not be enrolled.

How they were overcome

• Awareness-raising campaigns have been stepped up among refugees on the importance of targeting and criteria.
• Discussions are underway between the WFP, UNHCR and the Social Register to determine the periodicity.
• Awareness-raising campaigns have been stepped up and carried out in good time for camp leaders to inform refugees about the date and period of complementary targeting.

Results of the Good Practice

Targeting has enabled the most vulnerable to benefit from more substantial food assistance. Without targeting, this would not have been possible. 

For the past 2 years, UNHCR and WFP have been providing assistance in cash, and that’s very important. We have cash that circulates inside the camp.

Mohamed Ag Malha – Camp coordinator.

In what way does the good practice meet one or more of the four objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees?

Objective 2: Enhance refugee self-reliance

This project allows for refugees to enhance their self-reliance by improving their financial independence and use their discretion to find solutions.

Next steps

Complementary targeting is currently underway for those not included in the 2021 target and for new arrivals. However, in collaboration with UNHCR and the Social Register, we will need to define the periodicity for exhaustive targeting (3 years, 5 years, etc.).

Are there areas in which support would be required to continue and/or scale up your good practice?

Integration of people newly categorized in group 1 in the national program Takavoul.

Farah Kashaf – Head of Partnerships, OIM and Communications, WFP Mauritania - [email protected]