The Canary Islands spearheads the ‘Tierra Firme’ initiative to train 40 young individuals in Metalworking and Construction for Mauritania.
Nouakchott (Mauritania), 21 (Europa Press)
The President of the Canary Islands Government, Fernando Clavijo, urged public administrations involved in immigration management this Friday to “come” to Africa and “witness firsthand” the departure of Cayucos “rather than just taking a photograph and leaving.”
Speaking to the press after the second day of his official visit to Mauritania, he mentioned that “the same European approaches” cannot be implemented on the continent, prompting him to advocate for “listening, conversing, and comprehending.”
He emphasised that both the Canary Islands and Mauritania are regions of “migratory transit,” noting that Mauritania is bearing the brunt of all the pressure from the Sahel, amid a “vast territory” inhabited by five million people, where many ultimately view the coasts as a gateway to Europe.
Clavijo appreciated the “efforts” Mauritania is making to regulate vessel departures but “demanded collaboration, resources, and assistance to execute this effectively,” highlighting their desire to generate “opportunities here” as well.
“No one boards a cayuco voluntarily or for pleasure; they do so out of necessity, fleeing terror, hunger, and death. Until you arrive here, listen to it, and speak it, you cannot truly understand,” he stated.
The Canarian president expressed contentment with the Canarian delegation’s trip to Mauritania, as it has strengthened the “bridges” for the establishment of Canarian and Mauritanian businesses, showcasing “a clear example” of public-private partnership through coordination with trade chambers.
He acknowledged that many companies must “overcome daily challenges” to create employment, primarily due to obtaining visas, “for both travel and return,” which often hinders training efforts.
As a result, he praised the ‘Tierra Firme’ project, aimed at individuals aged 18 to 35, which offers ongoing training in diverse sectors such as logistics, welding, construction, renewable energy, water treatment, and port operations.
Creating opportunities and development
Clavijo underscored how public administrations are tailoring training programmes to “connect” with the productive sectors in Mauritania and the Canary Islands, enabling students to achieve a labour insertion rate exceeding 90%.
Through ‘Tierra Firme’, 40 young men and women from Mauritania are currently receiving training in Metalworking and Construction, although the aim of the Canary Islands Government is to expand the project’s scope as has been successfully executed in Senegal.
In total, over 400 young people from origin and transit countries to the archipelago will be trained in these two nations, with a budget allocation of 500,000 euros.
A pilot project for young people aged 18 to 35 will commence in Senegal in early 2024, with a budget of 60,000 euros.
The programme received a remarkable response, as one hundred per cent of participants secured stable employment within the companies where they undertook internships, prompting the government to broaden this initiative.
Participants in the programme receive three months of professional training customised to the specific needs of the companies associated with the project.
Nearly 1.5 million in cooperation over three years
In addition to the ‘Tierra Firme’ Pilot Project, the Canary Islands government collaborates with Mauritania across several training and cooperation initiatives.
Over the past three years, the Canary Islands has invested approximately 1.5 million euros in this African nation.
This figure, combined with investments from previous years, places the archipelago among the Spanish regions making significant contributions to cooperation efforts in Mauritania alongside Andalusia and Valencia.
Specifically, during the 2021-2023 period, 23 cooperation projects were realised with a funding total of 1.2 million euros through public calls and an additional 348,000 euros via direct grants.
For 2024, five cooperation projects have already been approved, totalling 294,269 euros.
The Canary Islands’ cooperation with Mauritania focuses on empowering women through economic and social promotion; training women in critical sectors such as fishing; academic reinforcement and training for minors; access to water; combating hunger; health initiatives including prevention against hepatitis B and malnutrition; as well as waste management and valorisation.
Furthermore, the Training Programme for Nurses and Midwives in Mauritania has been ongoing, facilitating practical placements at the University Hospital of Gran Canaria Doctor Negrín and the Maternal and Child University Hospital Complex.
The regional government also finances a scholarship programme for young Africans at public universities in the Canary Islands, benefiting 24 Mauritanian students since 2017.
In a bid to enhance training linked to the business sector in this African nation, the Canarian government supported a course on occupational hazard prevention in naval and port repair environments in Mauritania and a course on ‘Introduction to Security Measures in the O & G Market’, both of which were delivered last year.
