U.S. supports Morocco’s cooperative resilience efforts to mitigate climate change
USAID chief Samantha Power has announced the launch of a new initiative destined to help Moroccan vulnerable cooperatives and entrepreneurs in rural areas adapt to climate change, grow their economic activities, and build resilience to climate shocks and water scarcity.
The announcement of the new Cooperative Resilience Program was made by Smantha at the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) during her working visit (May 19-22) to the North African Kingdom.
The program will provide training, coaching, and climate financing to the vulnerable cooperatives and entrepreneurs in rural zones to enable them adapt to the impacts of climate change.
The new Cooperative Resilience Program (CRP) includes funding from USAID, UM6P, U.S. NGO GiveDirectly and is also conducted in partnership with Morocco’s National Initiative for Human Development.
USAID and its partners designed the new program in close collaboration with local cooperatives. This program will make available grants ranging from $3,000 to $9,000 of climate financing to more than 1,000 cooperatives and entrepreneurs, helping them to invest in equipment, raw materials, and improved techniques and processes that catalyze sustainable economic development and resilience to climate impacts.
It will also foster collaboration among local entrepreneurs, civil society, academia, and international partners for sustainable socio-economic development.
During her visit, USAID Administrator Power met with cooperatives which played a critical role as local partners throughout the design of the new program.
Many of them received support from a previous USAID initiative with GiveDirectly that provided a total of $14 million to over 1,600 vulnerable cooperatives during times of crisis and uncertainty, including the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing drought, global inflation, and Al Haouz earthquake.
The USAID chief held talks with several Moroccan officials and executives, including a meeting with Foreign Minister nasser Bourita in Rabat on Wednesday.
Following this meeting, the US official reiterated the United States’ support for the reforms carried out under the leadership of King Mohammed VI in the fields of governance, education and development.
She Welcomed in this onnection Morocco’s numerous achievements in terms of reforms and development, and highlighted the active role played by the Kingdom at continental and regional levels.
The US official also praised Morocco’s considerable efforts to promote the empowerment of youth and the fight against extremism.
She likewise welcomed the kingdom’s breakthroughs in renewable energies, as well as its impressive achievements in the fight against climate change.
Touching on the earthquake that hit the Kingdom in September 2023, Samantha Power highly commended the effective management by the Moroccan authorities of the disaser’s effects.
