In Rabat, a landmark initiative valued at 3.7 billion Moroccan dirhams (348 million euros) was unveiled this week to bolster the country’s National Water Plan. This collaborative effort, structured under the Team Europe approach, unites the European Union with Germany, Italy, and France—leading the co-financing charge—to tackle pressing water challenges.
The program draws from a 514.4 million dirham (48 million euro) grant provided by the EU, supplemented by three concessional loans totaling approximately 3.2 billion dirhams (300 million euros). These funds are channeled through the JEFIC network, with the German development bank KfW, Italy’s Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), and France’s Agence française de développement (AFD) playing pivotal roles.
Key objectives include deepening understanding of water resources amid climate volatility, fortifying resilience against extreme weather events like droughts and floods, safeguarding groundwater reserves, and strengthening institutional capacities in water management. Nizar Baraka, Morocco’s Minister of Equipment and Water, emphasized that this initiative aligns with the country’s strategic pivot toward sustainable water preservation in the face of intensifying climate pressures.
Philippe Lalliot, France’s ambassador to Morocco, highlighted the AFD’s critical involvement in driving this agenda forward. Meanwhile, Dimiter Tzantchev, the EU ambassador to Morocco, framed the program as a cornerstone of the Morocco-EU Green Partnership and the Mediterranean Pact, designed to foster joint climate resilience.
Robert Dölger, Germany’s ambassador, underscored KfW’s focus on targeted climate adaptation and groundwater conservation financing. Italy’s representative, Pasquale Salzano, tied his country’s contribution to the broader mission of gender equality, positioning it as a catalyst for the initiative’s success.
This funding infusion will directly reinforce the National Water Plan and the National Program for Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation (PNAEPI) 2020–2027, ensuring long-term water security for Morocco’s communities and agricultural sectors.
