Urban Development Program

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The Urban Development Program Project will support Mauritania's central and local governments improve living conditions, and promote employment opportunities in the main towns, with a special focus in slums. It will further strengthen the institutional framework, and capacity for urban, and land management. The project components include: 1) provision of basic urban infrastructure in the main cities, which in addition to consultant services for technical studies, and works supervision, include a ten-year program for slum upgrading in Nouakchott, and Nouadhibou. To prevent future squatter settlements, land allotment, allocation, and development will be funded - based on loan conditionality - with a twenty year reimbursement period, and five-year grace period. Labor-intensive economic, and environmental protection activities will be promoted, implemented in partnership with the private sector, namely for crafts, and fishing activities, agricultural market development, and, solid waste management; 2) access to micro-credit for land tenure regularization, home construction, or enterprise development, supported by nongovernmental organizations, and financial institutions, and, financed only by the Government, so as to extend ongoing micro-credit programs; 3) provision of technical assistance, and training for institutional, and capacity building for the development of urban communities, and micro-enterprises, in addition to strengthening municipal, and government administration capacity; and, 4) financing of incremental expenditures incurred on account of project management, auditing, monitoring, and operating costs of implementing agencies.