The European Union and key European cooperation agencies formalized a landmark financing agreement this Tuesday in Rabat, allocating €348 million (approximately 3.7 billion Moroccan dirhams) to advance Morocco’s national water strategy.
The agreement was signed at the Ministry of Equipment and Water headquarters, with Nizar Baraka, Morocco’s Minister of Equipment and Water, alongside ambassadors from the European Union, France, Germany, and Italy.
The three-year initiative builds upon a prior agreement established in November 2024 during a high-level meeting in Rabat between King Mohammed VI and a European leader, reinforcing long-term collaboration in water management.
Key contributors to this funding include France’s Agence française de développement (AFD), Germany’s Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), and Italy’s Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP). The AFD, serving as the project’s lead agency, played a pivotal role in mobilizing European partners to support Morocco’s water security goals.
France’s newly appointed ambassador to Morocco, Philippe Lalliot, marked his first official engagement in the country by highlighting his nation’s substantial contributions—over €1 billion—to Morocco’s water sector. He commended the EU’s efforts in addressing climate-driven water challenges.
According to Dimiter Tzantchev, the EU’s ambassador to Morocco, the funding will prioritize rural communities, ensuring access to clean drinking water and agricultural irrigation. “Water remains a top priority for the EU, particularly in the context of climate change,” he stated.
During the signing ceremony, Minister Nizar Baraka underscored Morocco’s ambitious water strategy, which includes 26 operational dams irrigating 1.5 million hectares of farmland. He emphasized the country’s goal to derive 60% of its potable water from desalination plants in the near future. “A nation that does not control its water resources cannot secure its future,” Baraka declared, reaffirming Morocco’s commitment to sustainable water governance.
The German ambassador, reflecting on the strong Morocco-Germany partnership, noted that KfW’s involvement in water infrastructure highlights the sector’s critical importance. His tenure as Germany’s ambassador to Morocco is nearing its conclusion.
This EU-backed financing strengthens Morocco’s capacity to address water scarcity, accelerate infrastructure projects, and safeguard both agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods. The initiative reflects a broader commitment to climate resilience and sustainable development across the region.
