Morocco and the European Union have taken a decisive step in their water management collaboration. The Ministry of Equipment and Water, alongside EU representatives, Germany, Italy and France, unveiled an ambitious support program for the National Water Plan in Rabat. The initiative, backed by a total investment of 3.7 billion Moroccan dirhams (€348 million), marks a significant milestone in climate resilience efforts.

The launch ceremony brought together key stakeholders including the Ministry of Economy and Finance and European partners. This groundbreaking program operates under the ‘Team Europe’ framework, designed to unify EU and member states’ resources for strategic projects.

The funding structure combines €514.4 million in EU grants with nearly 3.2 billion Moroccan dirhams in concessional loans from three major European financial institutions: Germany’s KfW development bank, Italy’s Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) and France’s development agency AFD, which leads the initiative.

The program targets four critical areas: strengthening water resource assessment amid climate change impacts, improving management of extreme weather events like droughts and floods, protecting groundwater reserves and enhancing institutional capacities in the water sector. Technical assistance will play a vital role in achieving these goals while fostering knowledge sharing between European and Moroccan experts.

During the event, Nizar Baraka, Minister of Equipment and Water, emphasized that water represents both a precious heritage to preserve for future generations and a strategic national sovereignty issue. He highlighted Morocco’s proactive approach in transforming its water management model, particularly in response to recurring droughts. The minister noted that this program will bolster the country’s climate resilience and ensure sustainable water resource management.

For the European Union, this initiative demonstrates its commitment to supporting Morocco in sustainable natural resource management. The EU Ambassador to Morocco emphasized that the program aligns with the Morocco-EU Green Partnership and Mediterranean Pact priorities, which prioritize climate resilience and water management in Euro-Mediterranean cooperation. The ‘Team Europe’ approach enables the mobilization of complementary financial and technical resources to deliver concrete solutions to shared climate challenges.

Like much of the Mediterranean basin, Morocco faces growing pressure on its water resources. Between 2017 and 2025, the country experienced several severe droughts while water demand continued rising due to population growth and economic development. This new program complements existing efforts under the National Water Plan and the 2020-2027 National Drinking Water and Irrigation Program (PNAEPI).

The ambassadors of Germany, Italy and France unanimously praised the initiative, which they believe will serve as a regional cooperation model. Germany’s KfW will focus on climate adaptation and groundwater protection, Italy will leverage its water management expertise and promote gender equality in the sector, while France’s AFD will ensure program implementation while integrating climate resilience and gender equality considerations.