Mauritania faces many challenges, both financial and non-financial, that hinder the achievement of the SDGs. The lack of reliable data on Zakat, the obligatory payment made annually under Islamic law for chartable and religious purposes, limits the government’s capacity to make optimal use of these funds to effectively meet the country’s development objectives. The INFF process intends to support the government in removing existing constraints and fully exploring the opportunities offered by Zakat.
Development of the INFF will work towards the creation of favourable conditions for an effective management system to reduce income gaps and mobilise and direct financial resources towards the most vulnerable. INFF activities will include an in-depth assessment of Zakat and a mapping of all key stakeholders. Zakat recipients, including those excluded from the conventional banking system, especially vulnerable women and youth, will be enabled to use the funds to finance their own business projects.
For more details, visit the Joint SDG Fund website.