According to the Bank’s website, the Emergency Assistance for the Fight against the Diphtheria Epidemic Project (MAULED) supports the Government of Mauritania in responding to a diphtheria outbreak declared in September 2025. The operation aims to contain the spread of the disease and strengthen the national response capacity in the most affected regions. The project is financed through a USD 500,000 grant from the African Development Bank’s Special Relief Fund and complements the national response plan implemented by the Ministry of Health with technical support from the World Health Organization (WHO). Activities focus primarily on the regions of Hodh El Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi and Assaba, where epidemiological risks are highest due to low vaccination coverage, limited access to health services and the presence of refugee populations.

The project aims to halt the transmission of the diphtheria epidemic and reduce mortality and morbidity among children in the affected regions. It strengthens epidemiological surveillance and laboratory diagnostic capacity to ensure rapid detection and confirmation of suspected cases, improves the clinical management of patients through the provision of essential medicines and medical supplies, and reinforces infection prevention and control measures within health facilities. The project also supports targeted vaccination campaigns and community awareness activities to increase immunization coverage and limit community transmission, while strengthening coordination and monitoring of the national response to the outbreak.

The project directly benefits vulnerable populations in the regions most affected by the epidemic, particularly children aged six months to fifteen years, who represent the majority of reported cases. Additional beneficiaries include close contacts of confirmed cases and frontline health workers who will receive training, protective equipment and medical supplies to improve case management and infection control. The intervention also supports health facilities and district health services involved in surveillance, vaccination and outbreak response. Indirect beneficiaries include the wider population in affected regions, including refugee communities and host populations, who will benefit from improved epidemic control, strengthened vaccination coverage and enhanced resilience of the national health system.

Environmental Category: [2] Moderate Risk

The project is classified in category 2. It involves the procurement of medical equipment, vaccines, and medicines, the use of which can generate environmental risks associated with biomedical waste management, as well as health and physical risks for healthcare personnel. Risks of traffic accidents also exist during the transport of personnel and supplies to affected areas.

The project is financed through a grant from the African Development Bank’s Special Relief Fund and complements the national response plan implemented by the Ministry of Health with technical support from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Financial Instrument: Emergency Assistance
Commitments (UA): 20,438,533
Conversion Rate USD (2026-03-02): 1,36276
Commitments (USD): 27,852,815.23

Name: Fatou Kiné WATHIE Epse THIAM
Email: f.wathie-thiam@afdb.org

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

You can submit an information request for project information at: https://www.afdb.org/en/disclosure-and-access-to-information/request-for-documents. Under the AfDBs Disclosure and Access to Information policy, if you feel the Bank has omitted to publish information or your request for information is unreasonably denied, you can file an appeal at https://www.afdb.org/en/disclosure-and-access-to-information/appeals-process.

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF AfDB

The Independent Review Mechanism (IRM), which is administered by the Compliance Review and Mediation Unit (CRMU), is the independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who have been or are likely to be adversely affected by an African Development Bank (AfDB)-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the IRM, it may assist you by either seeking to address your problems by facilitating a dispute resolution dialogue between you and those implementing the project and/or investigating whether the AfDB complied with its policies to prevent environmental and social harms. You can submit a complaint electronically by emailing crmuinfo@afdb.org, b.kargougou@afdb.org, b.fall@afdb.org, and/or s.toure@afdb.org. You can learn more about the IRM and how to file a complaint at: https://www.afdb.org/en/independent-review-mechanism/