Morocco eu partnership secures €348 million for water security
A groundbreaking €348 million initiative has been unveiled in Rabat to bolster Morocco’s National Water Plan. This strategic partnership, unveiled on Tuesday, combines European Union grants with highly concessional loans from three leading European financial institutions under the Team Europe approach.
The launch ceremony brought together key stakeholders: the Moroccan Ministry of Equipment and Water, the European Union, and the ambassadors of Germany, Italy, and France—the lead financier in this collaborative funding effort. The program’s financial structure includes a €48 million EU grant, complemented by approximately €300 million in concessional loans arranged through the JEFIC network by Germany’s KfW, Italy’s Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), and France’s Agence Française de Développement (AFD).
At its core, this initiative aims to enhance hydrological data collection to better assess climate change impacts, strengthen crisis management for extreme events like droughts and floods, protect groundwater reserves, and boost institutional capacities within the water sector.
Nizar Baraka, Morocco’s Minister of Equipment and Water, emphasized the urgency of this program: “The ongoing drought crisis has forced Morocco to reevaluate its water strategy, and this funding will reinforce sustainable resource management amid climate volatility and extreme weather patterns.”
united in climate resilience
Philippe Lalliot, France’s Ambassador to Morocco, highlighted the AFD’s pivotal role in driving this initiative forward. Dimităr Tzantchev, the EU Ambassador to Morocco, framed the program within broader climate goals, stating it aligns with the Morocco-EU Green Partnership and the Mediterranean Pact, both designed to tackle shared climate challenges.
Robert Dölger, Germany’s Ambassador, underscored the KfW’s targeted investments in climate adaptation and groundwater preservation. Meanwhile, Pasquale Salzano, Italy’s Ambassador, stressed Italy’s commitment to gender equality as a cornerstone for the program’s success.
This funding will directly reinforce two critical national water strategies: the National Water Plan and the National Drinking Water and Irrigation Program (PNAEPI) for 2020–2027.
