81310560-Projet pilote visant à quantifier et réduire l'usage de mercure dans les centres de traitement minier en Mauritanie

The Mauritanian mining sector generates nearly a quarter of the state's revenue, being drawn primarily from the extraction of iron, copper and gold. It accounts for two thirds of exports and is thus exposed to price fluctuations on the world market. So far, its contribution to creating value added and jobs remains low.

In the National Strategy for Accelerated Growth and Shared Prosperity (SCAPP2016-2030), the Government has chosen the extractive sector as one of the sectors with high potential for growth and jobs. With this in mind, the MMI (Ministère des Mines et de l'industrie) adopted a sectoral strategy targeting both the growth of the extractive sector and its diversification and better integration into the national economy.

The implementation of this strategy is supported by the ASEM Bilateral Program (Support to the Mining Sector of Mauritania) jointly supported by GIZ and BGR (German Federal Institute of Geosciences and Natural Resources). The support of the BGR is focused on expanding the information base on non-metallic minerals in cooperation with the Mauritanian Office of Geological Research (ANARPAM) to promote the diversification of the mining sector.

GIZ, through the new project "Integrated Economic Development in the Mining Sector (DEIM)" Builds on the results of the previous project "Strengthening the governance of extractive resources", namely the development of a national strategy for the mining sector and support-advice in the field of artisanal gold mining and, on the other hand, the new sectoral strategy of the MPME.

The project has the following objective and results: Objective: Conditions for enhanced use of the mining sector's potential for sustainable economic transformation are created

Result 1: The necessary conditions for a better control and implementation of standards in terms of environment, transparency, health and safety at work, human rights as well as for the respect of the legal provisions in the artisanal mining sector are created Result 2: Conditions for the creation of local value added in the mining sector are improved

One of the target groups is formed by employees working in the industrial and artisanal mining sector and subcontractors in this sector. Another target group is young people, aged 14 to 34, who do not receive initial training and do not have a job. Cooperation with the target group goes through the MMI (Ministère des Mines et de l"industrie), the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training, the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD), civil society organizations and the private sector as well as the regional and municipal administrations of Chami and Zouerate. Intermediate bodies reach the target groups through training and awareness-raising activities, controls and examinations, as well as a multi-stakeholder platform dedicated to creating local added value.

The capacity building strategy followed by the project applies a multi-level approach to the two expected outcomes. By establishing cooperation and consultation mechanisms in the form of a multi-stakeholder platform, the project cooperates with a multiple partner structure bringing together actors from the state, the private sector, civil society and local authorities and municipalities. By developing strategic documents related to local value creation and sustainability standards, the project supports multi-stakeholder platforms in the development of an action plan and its implementation. Based on its ongoing mandate, the Multi-Stakeholder Platform is prepared to continue its long-term institutionalized activities even after the end of the project.

Outcome 1 aims to improve the conditions underpinning the monitoring and enforcement of environmental, transparency, health, safety and human rights standards and ensure compliance with legislation in the artisanal and small-scale mining sector.

Outcome 2 aims to improve the conditions that underlie the creation of local value in the mining sector. To this end, as part of a multi-stakeholder platform and under the leadership of MPME, cooperation mechanisms are established between the mining industry, local companies upstream and downstream of the extractive sector, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Banking Sector, Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training, National Training Institutions and other Technical and Financial Partners relevant.