In a significant move to strengthen economic development and regional cooperation, a senior delegation from the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) concluded a six-day mission to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania from 3 to 8 November 2025. The purpose of the visit was to strengthen the partnership between the African Development Bank Group and Mauritania, review the current development portfolio and identify future paths of cooperation in line with the country’s growth strategy.
Strengthening strategic relationships
The delegation, comprised of senior advisors and AfDB board advisors representing regional and non-regional member states, held a series of high-level consultations with Mauritanian government officials. The meeting included discussions on:
Abdallah Suleiman Cheikh Sidia, Minister of Economic Development and President of AfDB Mauritania
Minister of Energy and Petroleum
Governor of the Central Bank of Mauritania
Secretary-General, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty
In addition to ministerial-level consultations, the team also held meetings with civil society organizations, private sector stakeholders, and technical and financial partners to ensure that the voices of various development actors were considered in shaping the Bank’s current and future interventions.
Site visit: Ground impact assessment
A key element of this mission is on-site visits to flagship AfDB-supported projects, most notably:
The Rosso Bridge project is a strategic infrastructure investment that connects Mauritania and Senegal and is essential to fostering trade and regional integration.
Mauritanian Agricultural Transformation Support Project (PATAM) in the Southern Region. This is critical to strengthening food security, agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods.
These visits allowed delegates to assess real-world outcomes, engage directly with beneficiaries, and glean insights into the development impacts and operational challenges of World Bank projects.
Expanding our robust development portfolio
Mauritania currently hosts an active portfolio of 21 AfDB-financed projects, with total net funding of approximately $655 million. These efforts span a variety of areas, including:
energy and natural resources
transportation infrastructure
water and sanitation
Agriculture and food security
Finance and governance
Industrial development and social inclusion
This multifaceted approach supports the country’s ambitious transformation goals while also addressing structural vulnerabilities such as unemployment, food insecurity and limited access to essential services.
Support and future prospects
At the end of his visit, Spokesman François Dufourny, Advisor to the AfDB Executive Board, praised Mauritania’s impressive development and economic potential.
“We have seen firsthand how the Bank’s interventions are having a tangible impact on people’s living conditions and strengthening national infrastructure. The strong partnership between Mauritania and the Bank is a model for effective cooperation in advancing sustainable development.”
Mauritania’s Economy Minister Abdallah Suleiman Checkshidia echoed this sentiment, saying:
“This visit demonstrates the importance the Bank places on its partnership with Mauritania. It provides an opportunity to assess the results achieved on the ground, listen to beneficiaries, and identify new areas of support to accelerate inclusive and sustainable development.”
A model of inclusive development
The delegation also included representatives from the AfDB North Africa Regional Office, led by Deputy Director Marin Blomberg, who plays a key role in coordinating the Bank’s operations and policy dialogue in Mauritania. This mission further reflects AfDB’s commitment to a participatory and results-oriented approach, which is the cornerstone of its strategy to increase the effectiveness and impact of development across Africa.
The visit comes at a time when Mauritania is seeking to diversify its economy and boost job creation, particularly in underserved regions. The Bank’s strategic focus on infrastructure, agriculture, and financial inclusion is consistent with the country’s efforts to foster resilient growth, foster regional integration, and advance the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
