Chad and Mauritania have officially launched a joint regional initiative aimed at overhauling access to and the quality of education across both countries, in what is being hailed as a transformative step for the Sahel.
The project, known as the Sahel RELANCE (Regional Intervention for Learning and Collaboration in Education), was formally unveiled on Tuesday in Nouakchott by the Ministers of Education and Finance from both nations.
It is backed by the World Bank and Germany, who are providing substantial financial and technical support to help modernise the region’s struggling education systems.
The programme is designed to address chronic challenges in Chad and Mauritania, where school enrolment rates remain low, teacher shortages persist, and infrastructure deficits limit opportunities for millions of children. By focusing on innovation, Sahel RELANCE will support curriculum reform, digital learning tools, teacher training, and new investment in school facilities.
The initiative stems from commitments first outlined in the White Paper on Education in the Sahel and the Nouakchott Declaration, signed in December 2021. Those agreements laid the groundwork for what has become the first large-scale, cross-border education project of its kind in the region.
Officials from both countries emphasised that the project reflects a shared vision for a new generation of learners. The ministers highlighted its importance in reducing educational disparities, improving literacy rates, and preparing young people for the demands of rapidly changing economies.
With the Sahel facing mounting socio-economic pressures, including high youth unemployment and climate-related disruptions, education is seen as a central pillar for long-term stability and growth. The Sahel RELANCE project is expected to serve as a model for similar regional collaborations, with its success potentially shaping education policy across West and Central Africa.
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