Social security in Mauritania is a cornerstone of social protection, providing income stability and long-term well-being for workers and their families. Administered through national frameworks, it covers critical life events such as old age, disability, workplace injuries, maternity, and death. Despite its importance, the system faces significant challenges, particularly in extending coverage to the informal sector, which dominates Mauritania’s economy. This blog explores the structure, benefits, contributions, and ongoing efforts to bridge coverage gaps, offering a comprehensive look at the system’s strengths and limitations.

Institutional Framework

The Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale (CNSS) is the primary institution managing social security in Mauritania, operating under the Labor Code and Law No. 67-039 of 1967, as amended. Established with legal personality and financial autonomy, the CNSS serves private-sector workers, providing pensions, maternity benefits, and workplace protections. Complementary entities, such as the Caisse Nationale d’Assurance Maladie (CNAM) for health insurance and pension schemes for civil servants managed by the Ministry of Public Service, ensure broader coverage. The CNSS has modernized processes through initiatives like the “Damanouna” digital platform, enabling online enrollment and payments, though access remains limited in rural areas.

Core Benefits Provided

The CNSS offers a range of benefits to insured workers, designed to mitigate risks and support families. Below is a detailed overview of these benefits, including eligibility and limitations:

• Old Age Pension: Available from age 60, requiring 15–20 years of contributions, depending on the scheme. The pension replaces 20–40% of the insured’s average salary, calculated on contributions and capped earnings. For example, a worker with 20 years of contributions may receive approximately 30% of their capped salary, often insufficient for urban living costs (CNSS, 2020). Early retirement at age 55 is possible with reduced benefits, subject to specific conditions.
• Disability Pension: Granted to individuals with permanent disabilities preventing gainful employment, as certified by a medical board. Eligibility requires at least 5 years of contributions, with 6 months contributed in the year preceding the disability. The pension is proportional to the old-age pension, adjusted for disability severity.
• Survivor Benefits: Paid to dependents (spouse, children under 21, or disabled dependents) of a deceased insured worker. The deceased must have been pension-eligible or actively contributing. Benefits range from 50–80% of the deceased’s pension entitlement, providing critical support to families.
• Work Injury Compensation: Covers medical treatment, rehabilitation, and income replacement for work-related accidents or occupational diseases. Temporary disability benefits provide up to 66.7% of the worker’s salary, while permanent disability grants lump-sum or monthly payments based on injury severity (ILO, 2020).
• Maternity Benefits: Includes 14 weeks of paid maternity leave (6 weeks pre-natal, 8 weeks post-natal), aligned with ILO Convention No. 183, plus medical care for childbirth. Benefits cover 100% of the insured’s salary during leave, requiring a minimum 6-month contribution period.
• Family Allowances: Monthly payments for children under 14 (or 21 if in education), typically 300–500 MRU per child. These modest allowances help offset education and living costs for low-income families (World Bank, 2021).

Despite these protections, benefit amounts are often inadequate. Pensions and allowances frequently fall below the estimated 20,000 MRU/month needed for a family of four in urban areas like Nouakchott. Rural workers face access barriers, such as limited CNSS offices or medical facilities for work injury claims. Women, overrepresented in informal work, are less likely to access maternity or pension benefits, exacerbating gender disparities (ILO, 2022).

Contribution Framework

The CNSS operates a contributory system, with employers and employees sharing costs:

• Employer Contributions: Approximately 15% of the employee’s gross salary, including:
  • 13% for social security (pensions, maternity, family allowances, disability).
  • 2% for the National Office of Occupational Medicine (ONMT) for workplace health and prevention.
• Employee Contributions: 1% of gross salary, deducted from wages.
• Salary Base: Contributions are assessed on a capped salary of 7,000 MRU/month (70,000 MRO pre-2018 redenomination), with a floor at the national minimum wage of 4,125 MRU/month as of 2023 (ILO, 2023).

The 2018 ouguiya redenomination (1 MRU = 10 MRO) has caused confusion in older reports. Contributions are mandatory for formal-sector workers, but enforcement is weak in small enterprises, limiting CNSS revenue. The capped salary base also reduces benefits for higher earners, as pensions are calculated on contributions up to 7,000 MRU, not actual salaries.

The Challenge of Informality

Mauritania’s social security system struggles to reach the informal economy, which accounts for 91% of non-agricultural employment and over 80% of total employment, including street vendors, artisans, fishermen, and nomadic herders (ILO, 2019). Informal workers lack access to pensions, maternity benefits, or workplace protections, increasing their vulnerability to poverty and shocks. Mauritania’s poverty rate, at 31%, underscores the urgency of expanding coverage, particularly in rural areas and among women, who comprise 60% of informal workers (World Bank, 2021; ILO, 2022).

In response, the Mauritanian government launched the National Social Protection Fund for Informal Workers in 2024, as part of its National Social Protection Strategy (NSPS). Praised by the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the fund offers simplified enrollment for informal workers, providing basic health insurance, micro-pensions, and maternity benefits (OHCHR, 2024). Financed by government subsidies, donor support (e.g., World Bank), and voluntary contributions (100–200 MRU/month), the fund targets urban markets and rural cooperatives in pilot phases.

However, implementation faces hurdles. Voluntary enrollment may deter low-income workers unable to afford contributions. Rural access is limited by low awareness and sparse CNSS infrastructure outside Nouakchott and Nouadhibou. The fund’s budget and coverage targets remain unclear, with no public data on enrolled workers as of May 2025. The NSPS complements existing safety nets like Tekavoul, a World Bank-funded cash transfer program reaching 100,000 poor households, but overlaps in targeting create inefficiencies (World Bank, 2024).

Stakeholder perspectives highlight mixed sentiments. On X, some informal workers express hope for affordable health coverage, while others distrust government programs due to bureaucratic delays. The Confédération Générale des Travailleurs de Mauritanie (CGTM) has advocated for mandatory enrollment and higher subsidies to ensure the fund’s sustainability, reflecting broader calls for inclusive policies.

Economic and Social Context

Mauritania’s social security system operates in a challenging environment. The economy relies on mining (iron ore, gold) and fishing, which account for 50% of exports but employ few workers formally (World Bank, 2021). Low digital penetration (30% internet access in 2023) and limited banking infrastructure hinder CNSS modernization, such as mobile payments or online enrollment (ITU, 2023). Climate change, including droughts affecting nomadic herders, further strains informal workers’ livelihoods, underscoring the need for adaptive social protection.

Gender and rural-urban disparities are significant. Women face barriers to benefits due to lower formal employment rates, while rural workers struggle with access to CNSS services. These structural issues limit the 2024 fund’s impact without investment in outreach, digital infrastructure, and gender-sensitive policies.

Proposed Solution: How Interact SSAS Can Help with Expanding Informal Sector Coverage

• Flexible Registration and Identification
  • Customizable registration forms accommodate seasonal workers, freelancers, and artisans.
  • Mobile, tablet, or kiosk-based access enables enrollment in rural or underserved regions.
  • Self-service portal allows informal workers to enroll using a national ID, phone number, or biometric data.

Path Forward

Mauritania’s social security system, led by the CNSS, provides essential protections but is constrained by the informal economy’s dominance and structural challenges. The 2024 National Social Protection Fund is a promising step toward universal coverage, but its success depends on addressing enrollment barriers, rural access, and funding sustainability. Digital solutions, like those proposed by Interact SSAS or the CNSS’s “Damanouna” platform, could enhance outreach, provided Mauritania invests in digital infrastructure and literacy.

To strengthen the system, the government should:

• Increase subsidies for the 2024 fund to reduce worker contributions.
• Expand CNSS offices and mobile units in rural areas.
• Integrate gender-sensitive policies to reach women in informal work.
• Regularly publish enrollment and impact data to build trust.

By addressing these challenges, Mauritania can move closer to inclusive social protection, ensuring all workers benefit from the security and stability the CNSS aims to provide.

Proposed Solution: How Interact SSAS can help with expanding informal sector coverage

1. Flexible Registration and Identification

• Customizable registration forms accommodate seasonal workers, freelancers, and artisans.
• Mobile, tablet or kiosk-based access enables enrollment in rural or underserved regions.
• Self-service portal allows informal workers to enroll using a national ID, phone number, or biometric data.

2.  Tailored Contribution Policies with Interact SSAS

Interact SSAS is designed to support a wide variety of contributor types, recognizing that social security systems must cater to both formal and informal sectors. The system allows for flexible setup and enforcement of contribution policies based on employment type, and policy directives.  This allows the social security authority to devise unique policies for the informal sectors and adjust based on results, fine-tuning for the best outcomes over time.

• Customized Contribution Groups: Interact SSAS can define distinct Contribution Policies for regular employees, self-employed individuals, and voluntary contributors such as freelancers, informal workers, or volunteers. Each group can have its own contribution rates, calculation methods, and payment cycles.

Figure 1 : Contribution Policies by Employee Group or Contributor Type

Figure 2 : Contribution Filing Calendar Configuration

• Micro-Contribution Plans: For irregular or low-income earners, the system supports micro-contribution plans that allow smaller, more frequent payments. This flexibility encourages participation from informal sector workers who cannot commit to fixed monthly deductions.

• Voluntary Contributions: Workers without formal employers can register independently and make voluntary contributions through self-service portals. The system handles their submissions, contribution tracking, and eventual benefit eligibility according to predefined rules.

This level of customization in Interact SSAS ensures that Mauritania’s social security system can be inclusive, adaptable, and sustainable across different economic segments.

3. Version Control

• Tracks historical policy versions for audit and legal consistency.  This is essential to support the ability of the authorities to pilot different programs to reach out to the informal economy and quickly adjust based on findings.  Contribution rates and payment frequency policies can be modified, different policies can be implemented for different target groups and policies can change over time while the system keeps a clear record of which policies were in effect at which time so retroactive transactions can be processed at any time with the correct policy.

Figure 3: Benefit Class Rate Table Configuration

4. Government Subsidy Management

Assigns subsidy policies for eligible groups. Interact SSAS supports different employee groups and different beneficiary groups, each with its own rules and regulations, known as “policies” in Interact SSAS. For example, benefits can be calculated using a sophisticated formula taking into account the person’s reported earnings or they can be fixed amounts across the board, regardless of income.

• The application will track any benefit payment made in the form of a government subsidy and maintain it on the individual’s record as part of the electronic record of the contributor.  Tracks government support and integrates it into contributor records. Through Contribution type Policies we can define different Contribution types and assign who will be paying for this type (could be employee, employer or both) and then assign each type to a different group.
• Supports conditional eligibility rules for dynamic enforcement.

Figure 4: Contribution Type Policy Listing

Figure 5: Contribution Policy Configuration

 

5. Engagement and Communication Tools

• Sends SMS contribution reminders and application alerts.
• Supports targeted awareness campaigns.
• Automates notifications for incomplete registrations or pending documentation.

6. Real-Time Benefit Tracking

• Workers can view contribution history and projected benefits via the self-service portal.

7. Mobile Applications

Specific mobile applications can be created for targeted campaigns and connected to the main system using the SSAXML API. This allows for the use of easy-to-navigate, purpose-built apps that serve specific functions while remaining fully integrated with the central platform. Simplified Claims and Disbursement

8. Digital-first process with minimal paperwork.

Interact SSAS enables a digital-first approach by minimizing paperwork across all administrative workflows. From registration to claims submission and approvals, the system allows users and staff to interact with the platform through intuitive digital interfaces, significantly reducing manual intervention and accelerating service delivery. This paperless environment not only improves processing speed but also enhances data accuracy and traceability.

9. Supports disbursement through banking partners.

In addition, Interact SSAS supports seamless benefit disbursement through integration with authorized banking partners. By enabling direct deposits into beneficiaries’ accounts, the system reduces reliance on manual or in-person payments, improves timeliness, and fosters financial inclusion—especially important in regions with limited CNSS office access. These capabilities align well with Mauritania’s goals of improving rural access and promoting secure, accountable benefit delivery mechanisms.

10. Reporting

A comprehensive set of reports is available which can be used to better target the registration of individuals in the informal sector, detailing employee numbers across various categories, contribution filings, payment histories, and the status of each transaction. Additionally, registration reports offer valuable insights into new enrollments and participation trends. Collectively, these reporting tools play a crucial role in enhancing transparency, improving data accuracy, and strengthening oversight of the social security system. Over time, the analysis of this data can reveal important patterns, including regional variations and potential seasonal trends, enabling policymakers to refine and better target their interventions. This continuous feedback loop is vital for adapting strategies and ensuring that social protection measures are inclusive, data-driven, and effective.

11. Web Services and API Integration for Custom Apps

The SSAXML API in Interact SSAS allows for the local social security authority to exchange data with other government sites and with custom-developed mobile apps.  By doing so, they can ensure secure messaging and integration with the core system. This offers the ability to develop specialized apps tailored to specific employee categories or sectors, such as apps for informal workers, freelancers, or specific industries. This customization ensures that Mauritania can have targeted solutions that best meet the needs of various worker groups, while maintaining the highest standards of data security and interoperability.

Summary of Impact:

Challenge	Interact SSAS Solution
Lack of formal employer	Self-registration as self-employed or voluntary contributor.
Irregular income	Micro-contribution and flexible payment schedules setup in the policy configuration
Government subsidies needed	Dynamic policy assignment and tracking
Hard-to-reach populations	Mobile accessibility, multilingual portals, outreach tools
Trust and transparency gap	Real-time record access, user-led data validation, increased transparency, quick response to questions and fast transaction processing.

Final Thoughts

Mauritania’s two-pronged social security system reflects a strong foundation for protecting its workforce. However, to ensure long-term resilience and inclusivity, the country must embrace modernization through digital platforms that enable broader coverage and efficient service delivery.

Interact SSAS stands as an example of how digital transformation can support this goal—offering configurable frameworks for contributions, benefits, compliance, and expansion into the informal sector.

References

Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale. (2020). Rapport annuel 2019. https://www.cnss.mr/

International Labour Organization. (2019). World employment and social outlook: Trends 2019. https://www.ilo.org/publication/weso-2019

International Labour Organization. (2020). Social protection in Mauritania: Overview and challenges. https://www.ilo.org/social-protection-platform

International Labour Organization. (2022). Women and men in the informal economy: A statistical picture (3rd ed.). https://www.ilo.org/informal-economy-report-2022

International Labour Organization. (2023). Minimum wage policies in sub-Saharan Africa. https://www.ilo.org/minimum-wage-africa-2023

International Telecommunication Union. (2023). Digital development dashboard: Mauritania. https://www.itu.int/digital-development/mauritania

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. (2024, February). Experts of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights commend Mauritania for linking social protection to informal workers. https://www.ohchr.org/en/news/2024/02/experts-committee-economic-social-and-cultural-rights-commend-mauritania-linking

World Bank. (2021). Mauritania economic update: Building resilience through social protection. https://www.worldbank.org/mauritania-economic-update-2021

World Bank. (2024). Tekavoul social safety net program: Impact evaluation 2023. https://www.worldbank.org/tekavoul-mauritania-2024