The Kingdom of Morocco and the European Union have joined forces to launch a groundbreaking water partnership program worth 3.7 billion Moroccan dirhams (348 million euros). This initiative, unveiled in Rabat, is designed to bolster the National Water Plan (PNE) by leveraging grant funding from the EU alongside concessionary loans from three European financial institutions.

a collaborative effort to secure water resources

The program, structured under the Team Europe approach, brings together Morocco’s Ministry of Equipment and Water with key EU stakeholders. Germany, Italy, and France are leading the co-financing effort, with France serving as the primary coordinator. The funding structure includes a 514.4 million Moroccan dirham (48 million euro) EU grant, supplemented by approximately 3.2 billion Moroccan dirhams (300 million euros) in concessionary loans facilitated through the JEFIC network.

The loans are provided by three major development banks: Germany’s Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), Italy’s Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), and France’s Agence Française de Développement (AFD). Together, these resources will drive critical advancements in water management across Morocco.

key objectives and strategic priorities

The partnership is centered on four core objectives:

• enhancing water resource knowledge in the face of climate change impacts,
• strengthening management of extreme events such as droughts and floods,
• protecting groundwater reserves, and
• building institutional capacity within the water sector.

Nizar Baraka, Morocco’s Minister of Equipment and Water, emphasized the urgency of these efforts, noting that the country has already begun rethinking its water strategy in response to prolonged drought conditions. He highlighted the program’s role in ensuring sustainable water preservation amid climate variability and extreme weather patterns.

voices from the partnership

Philippe Lalliot, France’s Ambassador to Morocco, underscored the pivotal role of the AFD in supporting Morocco’s water security agenda. Dimit er Tzantchev, EU Ambassador to Morocco, framed the initiative within the broader Morocco-EU Green Partnership and the Mediterranean Pact, both aimed at addressing shared climate challenges through strengthened cooperation.

Robert Dölger, Germany’s Ambassador, pointed to the KfW’s targeted investments in climate adaptation and groundwater preservation. Meanwhile, Italy’s Ambassador, Pasquale Salzano, stressed that Italy’s contribution aligns with a commitment to gender equality, recognizing it as a key driver of the program’s success.

strategic alignment with national water goals

This initiative will directly reinforce two pivotal national programs: the National Water Plan and the National Drinking Water and Irrigation Program (PNAEPI) 2020–2027. By integrating climate resilience into these frameworks, Morocco is taking proactive steps to safeguard its water supply for future generations.