General

The proposed operation is the second phase of a programme-based budget support operation to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. The objective of the first phase (PAREDE I), for the 2016-2017 period, for an amount of UA 6.7 million was to create conditions conducive to the diversification of the economy in order to promote inclusive and sustainable growth. The outcomes of the first phase were deemed very satisfactory. PAREDE II, which is a continuation of PAREDE I, has two complementary components as follows: (i) Support for the Improvement of Public Expenditure Effectiveness; and (ii) Support for the Promotion of the Non-extractive Industries Production System. The reforms identified under PAREDE II will contribute to attaining this objective by diversifying the Mauritanian economy and reducing its dependence on natural resources. To attain this objective, this programme lays emphasis on reforms aimed at supporting the economic diversification process which will have a very significant impact on gender. The programme has already adopted an important measure to increase the number of land titles issued to women from 52 in 2016 to 80 in 2018. This measure is a continuation of that of PAREDE I, which helped to increase the number of agricultural land titles issued to women from 20 in 2015 to 52 in 2016.

Objectives

The programme’s main objective is to create enabling conditions for diversifying the Mauritanian economy to promote inclusive and sustainable growth. The specific objectives are to: (i) improve public expenditure effectiveness; and (ii) promote the non-extractive industries production system.

Target Groups

The programme’s direct beneficiaries are the State of Mauritania, through the MEF, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Livestock. The indirect beneficiaries are Mauritanian citizens, who will be impacted by the stabilization of the country’s macroeconomic situation, and increased economic growth, excluding extractive industries, through the creation of sustainable jobs in growth sectors and income generation. Private entrepreneurs, professional organizations, farmers and stock breeders, especially women and young people, are also PAREDE II indirect beneficiaries, in the sense that the reform of the production system, especially in terms of PPPs and land law, will facilitate their integration into the economy, and thus contribute to creating wealth for the country.

Objectives

The overall objective is to "contribute to increased resilience, food security and income of agricultural and agro-pastoral households in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger through effective decentralized institutions and organizations for service delivery, improved natural resource and land management and local economic development." The programme is implemented through five (5) pathways, interdependent and complementary, which will achieve systemic and sustainable change.

General

The BRACC programme is investing in four key interlinked components: 1. Climate resilient livelihoods: up to £52 million to reduce the impact of climate shocks on poor and vulnerable households through asset transfers; improved agricultural production; natural resource management; and access to more diverse income streams. This is being delivered through a joint Non-Government Organisation (NGO) and United Nations (UN) led consortium called Promoting Sustainable Partnerships for Empowered Resilience (PROSPER). 2. Provision of a scalable safety net ‘crises modifier’: up to £20million to respond to predictable seasonal food insecurity needs and climate shocks through an increase in safety net value per person and/or numbers of people covered in the face of shocks. This is also being delivered through PROSPER 3. Strengthening social protection systems: up to £5million to strengthen national safety nets programmes so that in the longer term, they meet the basic needs of the poorest and respond to climate shocks when necessary. This is delivered through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Germany (BMZ/GIZ) and is co-financed by Germany and the European Union (EU). 4. Evidence, knowledge and policy influence: up to £8million to generate evidence and learning to drive programme decisions and inform government policy (£1.4million of this that has already been committed). This will be complemented by targeted technical assistance to government on social protection, disaster risk management and climate change adaptation. An accountable grant was put in place with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) on an interim basis, until the ‘Knowledge, Policy and Implementation Support Manager (KPISM)’, who will deliver the services set out in these Terms of Reference, is in place. A handover is anticipated during the Inception Phase. In addition, £1 million has been allocated to support Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) related activities in communities surrounding protected areas. This is being delivered through an Accountable Grant with African Parks. A further £4million has been allocated to co-finance USAID’s Modern Cooking for Healthy Forests programme which aims to strengthen Malawi’s resilience to climate change by countering deforestation and forest degradation, reducing soil erosion, improving land management and supporting sustainable livelihoods. Overall the programme aims to target around 300,000 households with a set of integrated interventions designed to increase household and community resilience to weather and climate related shocks. Key activities include: • Climate Smart Agriculture • Nutrition sensitive interventions • Integrated watershed management • Natural resource management • Disaster risk reduction and Climate services • Market systems development and inclusive business models • Micro-finance and micro-insurance • Shock-responsive social protection • Lean season response • District and national systems strengthening and coordination