The General Delegation for Civil Security
Civil Security is a core mission of the Mauritanian State and a tool responding to the effects of disasters and accidents, directly serving the population, particularly the most disadvantaged groups who are especially vulnerable to disasters and accidents.
The last decade in Mauritania has seen an intensification of natural disasters, exacerbated by climate change, such as floods and bushfires, radically increasing the risks and threats to populations, their homes, and the environment. Furthermore, new risks have emerged with recent developments in the national context: socioeconomic and industrial transformations, urban expansion, and the development of gas and mining operations. Civil security and crisis management have thus risen in priority within national policies, and significant institutional reforms have been implemented since 2019. In particular, the Directorate General of Civil Protection (DGPC), a partner of Monaco 1996, became the General Delegation for Civil Security and Crisis Management (DGSCGC), transitioning from a central directorate within the Ministry of the Interior to a civil security structure with increased administrative and managerial autonomy, as well as enhanced human and budgetary resources. The missions of the DGSCGC are:
- The study and prevention of phenomena or events that could endanger populations or their property;
- The coordination of efforts by public or private operators contributing to Civil Security;
- Monitoring the training and employment of Civil Security personnel.
Historically, Civil Protection has been the primary area of cooperation between Monaco and Mauritania. This partnership, which began in 1996 with the Monaco Fire and Emergency Service, has continued to grow ever since. The signing of a sectoral framework agreement between Monaco and Mauritania in 2016 established Civil Protection as a key area of cooperation between the two countries. The Principality of Monaco remains one of Mauritania’s main partners in this field. Between 2004 and 2021, nearly €2 million was allocated to Civil Protection Cooperation.
The previous Memorandum of Understanding 2019-2021 had notably enabled the establishment of an internal team of trainers at the DGSCGC providing initial training for new recruits for the first time in Mauritania, the acquisition of equipment and materials for victim rescue, firefighting, bushfires and floods and finally the provision of external technical assistance for the reform of the regulatory and legislative framework.
Within the framework of this new Memorandum of Understanding covering the period 2022-2024, the support provided by Monaco will continue to be fully aligned with the priorities of the Mauritanian State for the development of its Civil Security, focusing on 3 axes: strengthening human resources through training (initial and continuing), strengthening intervention resources through equipment and materials, particularly in the areas of flood and bushfire control, and finally, strengthening the skills of the DGSCGC in the implementation of civil security development projects through the provision of external technical expertise.
General objective
Improving civil security and crisis management in Mauritania.
Specific objective
- Strengthening the institutional, technical and operational capacities of civil security and crisis management in Mauritania.
Beneficiaries
Direct beneficiaries
- The Mauritanian General Delegation for Civil Security and Crisis Management (totaling 520 agents including 103 female staff) will be reinforced in its mission to provide assistance to people who are victims of accidents and disasters;
- The Mauritanian state will have a strengthened Civil Security force in a sovereign domain of the State.
Indirect beneficiaries
- The Mauritanian population (approximately 4.3 million inhabitants) will benefit from better protection and quality relief during accidents and disasters.
Expected results
- The technical and operational means of intervention of the DGSCGC are reinforced;
- The human resources of the DGSCGC are strengthened by the development of initial training and the maintenance of acquired skills;
- The DGSCGC is strengthened in its skills for implementing and managing cooperation projects.