The workshops and the closing session of the presentation and validation workshop of the study on mapping the actors of the social and solidarity economy, assessing their needs, and identifying promising value chains—organized by the Ministry of Vocational Training, Handicrafts, and Trades in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO)—concluded on Monday evening, January 26, 2026, in Nouakchott.
The workshop witnessed broad participation from representatives of government sectors, public institutions, technical and financial partners, civil society organizations, as well as stakeholders in the social and solidarity economy. Several thematic workshops were organized, focusing in particular on governance, the institutional framework, financing, capacity building, and the structuring of priority value chains.
These workshops enabled an in-depth review of the study’s findings, enriched through participants’ observations and proposals, and led to the formulation of practical recommendations aimed at strengthening the role of the social and solidarity economy as a lever for economic inclusion and the creation of decent jobs, especially for women and young people.
During the closing session, the recommendations resulting from the discussions were presented. They emphasized the need to strengthen intersectoral coordination, improve access to financing, support training and capacity building, and structure priority value chains in order to ensure the effectiveness of interventions and the sustainability of their impact.
Representatives of the International Labour Organization, Mr. Guy Tchami and Ms. Valentina Verze, also delivered a presentation on the social and solidarity economy, in which they highlighted successful models and experiences from various countries around the world. They underscored the role of this economic model in creating decent jobs, strengthening social inclusion, and supporting territorial development, while emphasizing the importance of adapting these experiences to national specificities.
During the same session, Ms. Valentina Verze delivered a speech in which she expressed her thanks and appreciation to all participants and partner sectors for their positive engagement, praising the quality of the discussions and the richness of the contributions. She also reaffirmed the ILO’s commitment to continuing its support for national efforts to promote the social and solidarity economy and strengthen its role in creating decent jobs and fostering economic inclusion, particularly for women and young people.
The official closing address was delivered by Dr. Abdel Dayem Nafea, Advisor to the Minister in charge of the Social and Solidarity Economy. He emphasized the importance of the outcomes of the workshop and the practical recommendations formulated during the working sessions, noting that the validation of this study represents a pivotal step in the implementation of the national strategy for promoting the social and solidarity economy, in line with the vision of His Excellency the President of the Republic, Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, as expressed in his program “My Ambition for the Nation.”
He also stressed the need to move to the implementation phase through strengthened intersectoral coordination, complementary interventions, and the mobilization of technical and financial partners, in order to translate the study’s findings into concrete actions with sustainable economic and social impact.
In conclusion, participants expressed their appreciation for the quality of the study and its participatory methodology, reaffirming their commitment to continuing their engagement in efforts to build a strong, structured, and inclusive social and solidarity economy, contributing to balanced economic and social development in Mauritania.