How Mamoudou Touré turned Typha from a Problem into a Solution with HABIDEM in Mauritania

<p>Meet Mamoudou Touré, agricultural engineer by training, who with his friend and business partner, turns the plant Typha into a material for construction with their business <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Habitat-Et-D%C3%A9veloppement-En-Mauritanie-787728054670428/" target="_blank">HABIDEM in Mauritania</a>. </p> <p>In the south of Mauritania there is a lot of Typha and it presents a challenge as it is spreading rapidly and blocking irrigation channels for the fields. </p> <p>Mamoudou came across this problem himself when he worked as a project manager in the south of Mauritania. He relates, that they used to spent a lot of money to fight against the Typha so that the water could reach the fields.</p> <p>So when his friend working in the construction sector told Mamoudou about the idea to use Typha as a material for construction, he saw, that this presented an opportunity to turn a problem into a solution that could create job opportunities for young people in Mauritania as well as further the use of sustainable construction materials and make construction in Mauritania more affordable. </p> <p>One of their breakthroughs came when they won a startup competition organised by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hadinarimtic/" target="_blank">Hadina RIMTIC</a> (another business we interviewed with AfricaX) and the World Bank Group.</p> <p>In the interview with Mamoudou we speak about how they started HABIDEM, how the reaction of his direct environment was, to him wanting to start a business, how they go about the replication of their innovative idea for other regions and how they launched their business while working full-time jobs.</p> <p>There is a lot of gold and inspiring stuff in this interview. So without further ado, enter Mamoudou Touré.</p> <p>_</p> <p>You can also find the <a href="https://africax.org/changemaker-interviews/mamoudou-toure-typha-from-problem-into-solution-habidem-mauritania/" target="_blank">interview with Mamoudou Touré, co-founder of HABIDEM on our AfricaX Blog</a> as wel