NOUAKCHOTT

The Local4Action HUB Nouakchott builds on a multilevel and multi-stakeholder process with all agricultural stakeholders of Nouakchott, including the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Water Distribution Company, agronomy experts, and local population, in particular farmers and job seekers and individuals seeking training opportunities.

Following an agreement with the central government for land management, the Region has proceeded to improve a land area for its agricultural use, in turn offering jobs, promoting urban agriculture, and easing access to allocated land to farmers. The initiative is in line with the implementation of the sustainable development strategy of the Nouakchott Region, aiming for a new multidimensional urban trajectory that promotes ecological transition by giving nature its rightful place in the city and a significant role in territorial development.

The HUB involves the renaturing of the city by managing water resources in a water-stressed area and fostering agricultural activities to contribute to food self-sufficiency and poverty reduction among the peripheral population. This is achieved through urban planning and infrastructure that prioritize people’s proximity, thereby reducing energy consumption and urban emissions while ensuring equitable distribution of essential social functions in the city.

The key objectives include increasing green spaces in the city to enhance resilience, valuing and equitably managing the scarce water resources, developing horticultural activities for food self-sufficiency, generating employment opportunities for vulnerable population groups, and enhancing agricultural techniques and best practices.

Expected outcomes

This initiative aims to increase green spaces within the city to bolster its resilience, enhance the value of scarce water resources by ensuring their equitable management, develop horticultural activities to contribute to food self-sufficiency, create employment opportunities for the most vulnerable population groups, and improve agricultural techniques by introducing best practices.

This initiative embodies the localization of solutions for global challenges, emphasizing its role in promoting local policies and actualizing the local contribution to the desired change. For instance, the renaturation of Nouakchott signifies more than mere improvements to the living environment; it strengthens the planet’s resilience to climate change, as does employment generation and water management.

Link to Agenda 2030

• SDG 2 – End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
• SDG 6 – Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
• SDG 8 – Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
• SDG 15 – Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

Link to the Pact for the Future of Humanity

• Commitments for People
  • C10 – Respect for planetary health and the well-being of future generations. 
  • C5 – Guarantee decent work and fair pay for all, based on the respect of the principles of subsidiarity, shared responsibilities and collaborative implementation, and entrepreneurship. 

• Commitment for Planet
  • C1 – Foster local economic development policies that foster new indicators based on quality of life and well-being rather than on growth and economic performance and connect systems of cities with their surrounding hinterlands.
  • C4 – Empower local communities to play a central role in protecting biodiversity, water, the environment and the planet and recreate local employment
  • C7 – Provide essential services accessible to all in proximities with the least amount of travel. 
  • C8 – Promote sustainable and inclusive food systems managed and improved by all spheres of government promoting access and quality of food, food security and sovereignty, and resilience.
• Commitment for Government 
  • C1 – Promote inclusive, participatory, responsible and accountable multilevel governance leading to global action

Link to other Global Agendas

• Agenda 2063
• Paris Agreement

Coming soon

Coming soon

For further information please contact:

• Local4Action HUBs Program – local4actionhubs@uclg.org