Mauritania has taken a further step toward linking public debt management with climate action and sustainable development financing, following a technical committee meeting in the capital, the Ministry of Finance said on Tuesday.
The meeting forms part of ongoing cooperation between the Mauritanian government and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) on a proposed debt-for-climate action and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) swap program.
Officials said the initiative aims to transform portions of Mauritania’s public debt into investments in climate resilience and priority development projects, providing a mechanism to address mounting socio-economic pressures and environmental vulnerabilities.
The ESCWA delegation in Nouakchott focused on analysing eligible debt service data, identifying potential bilateral creditors, and developing a portfolio of priority projects anchored in measurable impact and performance indicators. A roadmap for the next phase of implementation was also agreed upon.
Niang Idrissa, Director of External Debt at the Ministry of Finance, said the proposed swap initiative represents a strategic “win-win” framework for Mauritania. “It enables us to address climate vulnerability, sustainable development priorities, and public debt sustainability simultaneously, while financing projects with tangible economic, social, and environmental benefits,” he said.
In a video address from Beirut, Niranjan Sarangi, head of ESCWA’s Shared Economic Prosperity Group, said strong partner commitment enhances the credibility and potential impact of the initiative. He urged coordinated efforts to design an ambitious yet realistic program capable of delivering transformative outcomes for Mauritania’s sustainable development agenda.
The meeting brought together representatives from key government ministries, the UN Development System, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the African Development Bank, and the World Food Program. Participants discussed technical, legal, and financial arrangements required to operationalize the debt swap mechanism and integrate it into the country’s broader fiscal and climate strategies.
Debt-for-climate and SDG swap programs, increasingly adopted in developing economies, allow governments to restructure portions of their debt in exchange for commitments to invest in climate adaptation, renewable energy, education, health, or other priority development areas. Advocates argue that such mechanisms can ease fiscal pressures while accelerating progress on Sustainable Development Goals.
Mauritania faces significant climate-related risks, including desertification, rising temperatures, and coastal erosion, which threaten livelihoods, agriculture, and economic stability. The debt swap initiative is intended to channel financing into projects that mitigate these risks while promoting inclusive socio-economic development.
ESCWA and partner institutions emphasized the importance of robust monitoring frameworks and transparent reporting mechanisms to ensure the initiative delivers measurable outcomes and builds investor confidence. The program is expected to attract support from multilateral institutions, bilateral creditors, and climate finance actors, creating a model for debt sustainability aligned with development priorities.
Government officials said the initiative also aligns with Mauritania’s broader efforts to strengthen fiscal governance, enhance debt transparency, and mobilize international resources to meet the country’s climate and development objectives.
“The proposed debt-for-climate action and SDG swap is an innovative approach to reconcile fiscal responsibility with urgent development and environmental needs,” Idrissa said. “It positions Mauritania as a pioneer in leveraging debt management to fund sustainable growth and climate resilience in the region.”
The committee will continue consultations with international partners to finalise technical arrangements, creditor participation, and project selection criteria, with a view to launching the first tranche of the program in the coming fiscal year.
