Page 31 - AA 2026

Mauritania

Advance National Digital Transformation

of Agrifood Systems

Mauritania is taking important steps to modernize
its agriculture and livestock sectors through a more
coordinated and nationally anchored approach to digital
transformation. From 2 to 6 February 2026, specialists from
FAO’s Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa
joined colleagues from FAO Mauritania in Nouakchott to
support structured dialogue with national authorities and
development partners on strengthening digital agriculture
in the country.
With FAO support, a national e-agriculture strategy
was drafted in 2023, laying the foundation for the sector’s
digital transformation. Since then, the institutional context
has evolved significantly. A dedicated Ministry of Digital
Transformation and Modernization of the Administration frameworks and ensuring that digital solutions respond
now leads the broader digital agenda, and national digital to the real needs of farmers and rural communities.
public infrastructure has expanded, including the Khidmaty Mauritania’s commitment to agricultural digitalization
portal for online public services and the Houwiyeti digital offers a strong opportunity to build a coherent and
identification application. These developments create sustainable national ecosystem,” said Faten Adada,
new opportunities while underscoring the need to update Agriculture and Rural Development Expert at FAO’s
the existing framework to reflect the new institutional
landscape and emerging technologies. Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa.
The mission reviewed initiatives that provide a
During consultations with the Ministry of Agriculture
and Food Sovereignty and the Ministry of Digital foundation for scaling, including Digital Village Initiative
Transformation and Modernization of the Administration, sites and the Technological Innovation Centre at ISET
discussions focused on strengthening governance Rosso, where digital literacy, advisory services and
arrangements and establishing a joint technical working youth entrepreneurship are being integrated into local
group to guide the renewal of the national digital agrifood innovation ecosystems. Tools such as the Rural Digital
strategy. The objective is to ensure that digital solutions Readiness Assessment were also introduced to ensure that
are aligned with sector priorities, integrated within digital investments are grounded in institutional capacity
national systems and supported by clear institutional and community demand.
responsibilities. Youth entrepreneurship under the Agrination II initiative
“Digital transformation in agrifood systems is not supported by Spanish Cooperation was highlighted as a
about introducing technology for its own sake. It is strategic entry point, alongside opportunities to extend
about strengthening institutions, aligning governance digital innovation to pastoral systems. Engagements
with development partners further underscored the
importance of coordination in aligning digital agriculture
with broader food systems and governance priorities.
Next steps include formalizing the technical working
group and organizing a national workshop to validate
priority actions and define a practical roadmap. Through
strengthened cooperation between national institutions
and FAO, Mauritania is moving toward a coherent and
sustainable digital agrifood ecosystem designed to
enhance resilience and inclusiveness in rural areas.

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