The Kingdom of Morocco has sealed a landmark agreement with the European Union delegation in Rabat and the embassies of Germany, Italy, and France to launch a groundbreaking 3.7 billion Moroccan dirhams (equivalent to 402.2 million US dollars) program supporting its National Water Policy (PNE).

This initiative, announced through an official statement from the Ministry of Equipment and Water, is designed to bolster the country’s water sector governance across three critical fronts: deepening understanding of water resources, enhancing management of extreme weather events, and strengthening institutional capacities. The program also includes hands-on technical support and structured knowledge exchange between Moroccan and European institutions.

The financial package comprises a 514.4 million dirham contribution from the European Union, supplemented by three loans totaling 3.2 billion dirhams secured from European financial institutions.

addressing a mounting water crisis

Morocco faces mounting water stress driven by climate change, rising demand, seven consecutive years of drought, and severe rainfall deficits. To counter these pressures, the Kingdom has rolled out a series of large-scale projects aimed at securing water access, including the construction of new dams, expansion of hydraulic interconnections, reuse of treated wastewater, and implementation of water-saving measures in both potable water and irrigation networks.

desalination emerges as a key pillar

The country is also prioritizing seawater desalination as a strategic solution to bolster water security. By 2030, Morocco aims to meet over 50% of its drinking water needs through desalination plants, while simultaneously supporting large-scale agricultural irrigation to enhance food sovereignty.