Morocco has joined forces with the European Union delegation in Morocco, alongside ambassadors from Germany, Italy, and France, to launch a transformative initiative valued at 3.7 billion Moroccan dirhams (approximately $402.2 million). This funding will drive the implementation of the National Water Policy (PNE), designed to strengthen the country’s water governance framework.

The initiative, as outlined by the Ministry of Equipment and Water, targets three core areas: deepening understanding of water resources, improving management of extreme weather events, and building institutional capacity within the water sector. Technical support and knowledge exchange between Moroccan and European institutions will be integral to the program’s success.

The financial package combines a €105 million EU grant with €657 million in loans from European financial institutions, totaling 3.7 billion dirhams.

The Kingdom faces severe water stress, exacerbated by climate change, rising demand, seven consecutive years of drought, and persistently low rainfall. To counter these pressures, Morocco is advancing multiple strategic projects, including dam construction, hydraulic interconnections, wastewater recycling, and water conservation initiatives across potable and irrigation networks.

Desalination of seawater has emerged as a cornerstone of the country’s water security strategy. By 2030, the Kingdom aims to meet over half of its potable water needs through desalination, simultaneously expanding irrigation coverage to bolster food sovereignty and economic resilience.

By Mariama Hamani — Analyst