Country context (P3 lens)

Mauritania is a low- to lower-middle-income country with a nascent P3 market. P3s are intended to mobilize private capital, accelerate infrastructure delivery, and transfer operational risk, primarily in transport, energy, and social infrastructure. Political and institutional challenges mean that most projects rely on multilateral or donor support to ensure financial viability and attract investors.

Verified sources: World Bank PPP Knowledge Lab, Mauritania Ministry of Economy and Finance, IMF, African Development Bank.

Economic and infrastructure conditions

• Economy: Resource-driven (iron ore, fisheries, agriculture); infrastructure investment is crucial for trade, energy access, and service delivery.

• Infrastructure priorities:

  • Roads, bridges, and regional transport corridors

  • Electricity generation (solar, wind, thermal) and distribution

  • Water supply, sanitation, and municipal services

  • Hospitals, schools, and social infrastructure

• Private sector: Domestic investor base is small; most P3 projects require regional or international investors, often supported by donor guarantees.

Projects are typically medium-scale, donor-backed, and structured for predictable cash flows.

Public Private Partnerships framework

Legal and institutional setup

• Mauritania’s P3s are governed by the Public-Private Partnership Framework (2013), with oversight by the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the PPP Unit.

• Project approval requires feasibility studies, value-for-money assessments, fiscal risk evaluation, and multilateral advisory support.

• Typical P3 structures:

  • Concessions for transport infrastructure (roads, bridges, regional corridors)

  • Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) for energy and utilities

  • Availability-payment contracts for hospitals, schools, and municipal services

Market characteristics

• Mauritania’s P3 market is nascent, relying heavily on advisory support from the World Bank, AfDB, or IMF.

• Financing structures include availability payments, revenue-sharing, and donor-backed blended finance.

• Investor participation is largely regional or international, given limited domestic technical and financial capacity.

Sector experience and opportunities

Transport

• Roads, bridges, and regional corridors are primary P3 opportunities.

Energy and utilities

• Solar, wind, and small-scale thermal power projects delivered under BOT or concession models.

• Transmission and distribution may involve private participation under structured agreements.

Water and municipal services

• Urban water supply, sanitation, and wastewater projects structured as service contracts or concessions.

Social infrastructure

• Hospitals and schools delivered through availability-payment P3s, often with multilateral or donor support.

Key P3 considerations

• Fiscal and political risk: Government guarantees or donor support are critical due to limited fiscal capacity.

• Institutional capacity: Central P3 units provide oversight but rely heavily on multilateral advisory support.

• Market depth: Very limited domestic investor base; regional and international investors are essential.

• Project selection: Focus on revenue-generating or donor-supported projects for bankability.

Outlook

Mauritania is a nascent P3 market with potential in transport, energy, water, and social infrastructure:

• Focus sectors: roads, renewable energy, water, and social infrastructure

• Projects are generally medium-scale, government-backed, and structured for predictable returns

• Multilateral advisory and financing support is essential for successful project delivery

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