• $7 million UN-backed initiative targets 686,000 people in vulnerable border regions

• Project builds water infrastructure, manages conflicts, improves climate early warning systems

Senegal, Mali, and Mauritania have launched a cross-border project aimed at making sustainable water management a strategic tool for cooperation, peace, and climate resilience in the border areas of the three countries, according to a press release. The initiative targets a total of 686,000 beneficiaries, including 151,000 people directly affected and 535,000 people indirectly reached.

Launched on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, the project is titled “Cross-border investment in water management, climate security, and peacebuilding in the border areas of Mauritania, Mali, and Senegal.” It is funded by $7 million from the Peacebuilding Fund and will be implemented over a two-year period under the joint coordination of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The project targets border areas such as Guidimakha, Kayes, and Tambacounda that are exposed to overlapping vulnerabilities linked to climate change and water scarcity, the press release said. It plans to build and rehabilitate hydraulic infrastructure, strengthen community systems for the prevention and management of conflicts over access to water, and strengthen early warning systems to better anticipate climate shocks. The project comes amid demographic pressure and the intensification of climate hazards.

Légende: Lila Pieters Yahia, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Mauritania

“By investing in a concerted and inclusive management of water, this project contributes to transforming a vital resource, often a source of tension, into a channel for dialogue, cooperation, and lasting peace in the border areas of the Sahel,” said Lila Pieters Yahia, the UN Resident Coordinator in Mauritania.

Between droughts and conflicts, access to water is under strain

In Mauritania, several neighborhoods in Nouakchott, the capital, experienced severe water shortages last year. According to UNICEF, more than 22% of the Mauritanian population lacks access to a basic source of drinking water, highlighting significant disparities in the country. Climate change is compounding the problem, leading to unpredictable variations in rainfall, prolonged periods of drought, and the degradation of water resources.

In Mali, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, with rising internal displacement and growing difficulties in accessing basic services. Armed conflicts and climate disruptions are worsening living conditions.

In Senegal, the overall rate of access to drinking water is estimated at 98.8% in urban areas and 91% in rural areas, according to data from the Ministry of Water and Sanitation. However, some regions still have a very low rate of access to drinking water.

The governments of the three countries have implemented programs aimed at addressing water-related challenges, notably through the construction of boreholes and the installation of solar-powered water points.

Lydie Mobio