Nouakchott, May 20, 2022. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has launched a new project to support youth in Mauritania. The project, Tamkeen, which means empowerment in Arabic, will be implemented over five years (2021-2026) with a budget of $7 million.
Tamkeen is implemented by USAID’s partner, FHI 360, and under the guidance of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. Tamkeen encourages social and civic change by placing young Mauritanians at the forefront of promoting pro-social alternatives to violent conflict. It does so by doing three types of interventions.
The first is to build networks of youth and community groups. The second is to create safe spaces for youth to interact and learn leadership skills. The last is to combat the isolating effects and vulnerability to the risks created by disinformation, especially those that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated over the past two years.
The Tamkeen project aims to positively impact Mauritanian youth by giving them leadership and life skills so they can support themselves independently. Tamkeen will boost young Mauritanian’s self-confidence and encourage them to get involved in decision-making processes in communities, with local government, and in their homes.
Among its various targets, Tamkeen will work with 100 youth leaders to create 13 youth community centers, reaching thousands of youth throughout Mauritania. Tamkeen will be active in eight regions: Adrar, Hodh el Chargui, Hodh el Gharbi, Guidimakha, Assaba, Trarza, Tiris Zemour, and the capital, Nouakchott.
Additional information:
USAID is the lead U.S. Government agency that works to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential. To learn more about USAID, visit www.usaid.gov.
FHI 360 is a non-profit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. Their staff includes experts in health, education, nutrition, environment, economic development, civil society, gender, youth, research, technology, communication, and social marketing — creating a unique mix of capabilities to address today’s interrelated development challenges. FHI 360 serves more than 60 countries and all U.S. states and territories. Forasdf more information, please visit www.fhi360.org.
