Morocco Gets € 117 Mln Loan from AfDB for Drinking Water Projects

The African Development Bank Group has approved a €117 million loan to Morocco to enable the North African country to finance a project destined to ensure the sustainability and security of access to drinking water.

The project aims to secure access to drinking water in the provinces of Guercif, Zagora, Al Hoceima, Tanger and Beni Mellal, which have a combined population of 2.5 million people.

“Guaranteeing access for all to high-quality drinking water is the prerequisite for any form of sustainable development. For us, this is a strategic contribution,” said Mohamed El Azizi, the Bank’s Director for North Africa.

This project is part of the 2016-2020 investment plan of the Moroccan National Electricity and Drinking Water Agency (ONEE). “It will contribute to further improving the quality of life of millions of Moroccans,” said the Bank’s Morocco Country Manager, Leila Farah Mokaddem.

The partnership between Morocco and the African Bank for Development includes more than 160 projects and programs totaling a funding commitment in excess of $10 billion.

This funding, devoted mostly to basic infrastructure, covers a range of sectors including energy, water, transport, agriculture and social development.