Mauritania: Women’s Contribution to Climate Change-Induced Disaster Management

Mauritania — Every year, around 200,000 hectares of pastureland are destroyed in Mauritania by natural disasters such as bushfires and floods which are exacerbated by climate change, with desertification affecting 85% of the country. These devastating incidents are particularly frequent in the south-east of the country, on the border with Mali.

The Hodh el Chargui region in this area alone accounts for 90% of bushfires, a phenomenon whose occurrence is particularly aggravated in Bassikounou, a commune severely affected by drought, making living conditions extremely difficult for local communities, transhumant herders and migrants.

Lemghayes, the village of Fatma, located in the border area with Mali, is a vital crossing point for transhumant herders who come to sell and graze their livestock. The scarcity of resources such as water and arable land can be a source of tension between the different populations living in and passing through the village. “We only have one water pond for our livestock and the animals of transhumants, so you can imagine what that can cause,” says Fatma.

Fatma is one of 1,545 beneficiaries of disaster management awareness-raising activities in two transhumance areas, covering 20 villages, under the European Union-funded project “Strengthening National and Local Disaster Preparedness and Response Capacities in border areas and transhumance corridors in the Hodh Ech Chargui region of Mauritania.”

The awareness-raising activities conducted by IOM in collaboration with the village committees also placed women at the heart of community strategies to combat natural disasters, including bushfires.

The collaboration between IOM and the village committees is not limited to raising awareness, but also extends to putting in place practical mechanisms for responding effectively in the event of a disaster. Each village committee benefits from specific tools and protocols to prepare for, manage and respond to crises, including possible conflicts that could arise due to the scarcity of natural resources essential to the survival of livestock.

A multi-hazard contingency plan developed with the support of the Directorate General for Civil Security and Crisis Management (Délégation Générale à la Sécurité Civile et à la Gestion des Crises) was also presented to communities living in high-risk areas.

Thanks to the awareness campaigns initiated by IOM, Fatma and the women of Lemghayes can now raise their voices and participate fully in crisis management within their community. “Like men, we play an active role in natural disaster management and prevention. We understand that this is not just a task for the men, but for the whole village, including the women,” says Fatma, demonstrating women’s commitment and contribution to this vital activity for the community.

Raising awareness has enabled the women of Lemghayes to go beyond disaster risk and climate change-induced disaster management. They have adopted new strategies to reduce natural disaster impacts, thanks to IOM initiatives. To diversify their economic activities depending on the region’s climate, Fatma and her fellow villagers have set up women’s associations, strengthening their mutual support and their ability to overcome environmental challenges.

This story is written by Bocar SY and Kalidou DIAGANA, IOM Mauritania Communications Unit.