Mauritania and FAO 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 now leads the broader digital agenda, and national digital public infrastructure has expanded, including the Khidmaty portal for online public services and the Houwiyeti digital identification application. These developments create new opportunities while underscoring the need to update the existing framework to reflect the new institutional landscape and emerging technologies.

During consultations with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty and the Ministry of Digital Transformation and Modernization of the Administration, discussions focused on strengthening governance arrangements and establishing a joint technical working group to guide the renewal of the national digital agrifood strategy. The objective is to ensure that digital solutions are aligned with sector priorities, integrated within national systems and supported by clear institutional responsibilities.

“Digital transformation in agrifood systems is not about introducing technology for its own sake. It is about strengthening institutions, aligning governance frameworks and ensuring that digital solutions respond to the real needs of farmers and rural communities. Mauritania’s commitment to agricultural digitalization offers a strong opportunity to build a coherent and sustainable national ecosystem,” said Faten Adada, Agriculture and Rural Development Expert at FAO’s Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa.

The mission reviewed initiatives that provide a foundation for scaling, including Digital Village Initiative sites and the Technological Innovation Centre at ISET Rosso, where digital literacy, advisory services and youth entrepreneurship are being integrated into local innovation ecosystems. Tools such as the Rural Digital Readiness Assessment were also introduced to ensure that digital investments are grounded in institutional capacity and community demand.

Youth entrepreneurship under the Agrination II initiative supported by Spanish Cooperation was highlighted as a strategic entry point, alongside opportunities to extend 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.