In Mauritania, malnutrition is a public health problem. To address this situation, the Ministry of Health, with the support of UNICEF, developed a 2017-2026 Plan to upscale best infant and young child feeding practices (IYCF). Since 2018, GRET is contributing to the operationalisation of this plan in communities and in healthcare structures. The Amal project is being conducted within this framework, as a complement to the RimSanté project to support healthcare structures (2023-2026).
Taking an integrated, multisector approach, the project aims to improve infant and young child feeding practices in 11 municipalities in the Brakna and Gorgol regions in Mauritania.
The first component consists of supporting promotion of good family practices related to feeding, healthcare and hygiene via discussion groups (Gaspa and dialogue in communities) organised in villages and facilitated by around one hundred community relay persons – people who are influential in their community.
The second aims to improve access to feeding solutions suited to the needs of young children via provision of support to market-gardening schemes and to units producing affordable, good-quality infant flours.
The last component is contributing to the creation of an environment that is favourable to the adoption of good feeding practices via support for institutional actors. This will be done through the adoption and monitoring of a quality standard for fortified infant flours, and by promoting the Mauritanian order on the application of the WHO code of marketing of breast-milk substitutes.
