Morocco eu water partnership secures €348 million investment

The Kingdom of Morocco and the European Union have launched a groundbreaking €348 million initiative to bolster the country’s National Water Plan (PNE). Announced in Rabat, this program leverages EU grants and concessionary loans from three leading European financial institutions under the «Team Europe» framework.

The collaboration involves the Moroccan Ministry of Equipment and Water alongside the EU, Germany, Italy, and France—the lead contributor. The initiative combines a €48 million EU grant with three concessionary loans totaling approximately €300 million, sourced through the JEFIC network. These funds are being mobilized by Germany’s KfW, Italy’s Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), and France’s Agence Française de Développement (AFD).

The project’s core objectives include enhancing hydrological data to address climate change impacts, strengthening management of extreme weather events like droughts and floods, protecting groundwater reserves, and building institutional capacity within the water sector.

Speaking at the launch, Nizar Baraka, Morocco’s Minister of Equipment and Water, highlighted the country’s shift in water strategy amid persistent drought conditions. He emphasized that this program will reinforce sustainable water resource management by addressing climate variability and extreme weather challenges.

Philippe Lalliot, France’s Ambassador, underscored the pivotal role of the AFD in driving this initiative forward. Meanwhile, Dimiter Tzantchev, the EU Ambassador to Morocco, framed the program within the broader Morocco-EU Green Partnership and Mediterranean Pact, both aimed at deepening climate resilience cooperation.

Robert Dölger, Germany’s Ambassador, stressed Germany’s commitment through targeted funding for climate adaptation and groundwater preservation. For its part, Pasquale Salzano, Italy’s Ambassador, linked Italy’s participation to its commitment to gender equality as a cornerstone for the program’s success.

This landmark initiative will directly support Morocco’s National Water Plan and the National Drinking Water and Irrigation Program (PNAEPI) for 2020–2027, ensuring long-term water security and climate resilience across the country.