Maroc and EU launch 3.7 billion dirham water partnership program

A groundbreaking €348 million (3.7 billion Moroccan Dirhams) initiative has been unveiled in Rabat to bolster the Kingdom’s National Water Plan. This collaborative effort unites European Union grants with concessionary loans from three major European financial institutions under the Team Europe framework.

The launch ceremony brought together key stakeholders, including Morocco’s Ministry of Equipment and Water, the EU delegation, and representatives from Germany, Italy, and France—the latter leading the co-financing structure. The program draws on a €48 million EU grant, supplemented by concessionary loans totaling approximately €300 million. These funds are channeled through the JEFIC network via Germany’s Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), Italy’s Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), and France’s Agence Française de Développement (AFD).

The initiative targets critical water sector challenges, including climate-resilient water resource management, enhanced response to extreme weather events like droughts and floods, protection of groundwater reserves, and institutional capacity building. Nizar Baraka, Morocco’s Minister of Equipment and Water, emphasized the program’s alignment with the country’s revised water strategy, designed to address climate-induced pressures on water security.

Philippe Lalliot, France’s Ambassador to Morocco, highlighted the AFD’s pivotal role in driving sustainable water solutions. Meanwhile, Dimiter Tzantchev, the EU Ambassador to Morocco, framed the program within the broader EU-Morocco Green Partnership and the Mediterranean Pact, both aimed at strengthening climate resilience across the region.

Robert Dölger, Germany’s Ambassador, underscored KfW’s focus on climate adaptation and groundwater conservation. On a parallel note, Pasquale Salzano, Italy’s Ambassador, linked Italy’s participation to its commitment to gender equality, positioning it as a cornerstone for the program’s success.

This strategic collaboration will directly reinforce Morocco’s National Water Plan and the 2020-2027 National Drinking Water and Irrigation Program (PNAEPI), ensuring long-term water security for the nation.