Morocco eu water partnership secures 3.7 billion dirhams for national plan

A landmark partnership worth 3.7 billion Moroccan dirhams (348 million euros) has been unveiled in Rabat to reinforce the country’s National Water Plan (PNE). This initiative pools grants from the European Union with concessional loans from three European financial institutions, structured under the «Team Europe» framework, as confirmed in an official release.

The initiative was jointly inaugurated by Morocco’s Ministry of Equipment and Water, alongside representatives from the EU, Germany, Italy, and France—the lead coordinator of this co-financing effort. The program draws on 514.4 million dirhams (48 million euros) in EU grants, supplemented by three concessional loans totaling about 3.2 billion dirhams (300 million euros). 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 overarching goal is threefold: enhance hydrological data to tackle climate change impacts, bolster resilience against extreme weather events like droughts and floods, safeguard groundwater reserves, and strengthen institutional capacities within the water sector.

Nizar Baraka, Morocco’s Minister of Equipment and Water, emphasized that the country has already reimagined its water strategy in response to persistent drought conditions. He noted that this program will further cement long-term water resource preservation amid climate volatility and recurring extreme events.

Philippe Lalliot, France’s Ambassador to Morocco, highlighted France’s pivotal role through the AFD’s contributions. Meanwhile, Dimiter Tzantchev, the EU Ambassador to Morocco, framed the program as a cornerstone of the Morocco-EU Green Partnership and the Mediterranean Pact, both designed to deepen collaboration on shared climate challenges.

Robert Dölger, Germany’s Ambassador, underscored the KfW’s targeted investments in climate adaptation and groundwater protection. For his part, Pasquale Salzano, Italy’s Ambassador, stressed that Italy’s involvement aligns with gender equality as a key driver for sustainable water management.

This partnership will directly bolster the National Water Plan and the National Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation Program (PNAEPI) for 2020–2027, reinforcing Morocco’s commitment to resilient and inclusive water governance.