Morocco and the European Union launched a program to support the Kingdom’s national water policy for a total cost of 3.7 billion dirhams (€348 million), as the country faces mounting pressure on its water resources due to climate change and recurring droughts.
The program, unveiled in Rabat, is backed by the EU along with Germany, France, and Italy under the “Team Europe” approach, according to a statement.
It combines €48 million in EU grants with around €300 million in concessional loans mobilized by the French Development Agency (AFD), Germany’s KfW, and Italy’s CDP.
The initiative aims to support the implementation of Morocco’s National Water Plan in a context marked by increasing water stress driven by repeated drought episodes and rising demand.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Minister of Equipment and Water Nizar Baraka stressed that water security is a strategic priority for the Kingdom.
Morocco has chosen “anticipation and action” by deeply transforming its water management model in response to drought, he said.
The program is structured around four main priorities, including improving knowledge of water resources, strengthening the management of extreme events such as droughts and floods, protecting groundwater, and enhancing the capacities of institutions in charge of the sector.
EU Ambassador to Morocco Dimiter Tzantchev said the initiative reflects the bloc’s commitment to supporting sustainable water management.
Morocco has been grappling with growing water scarcity in recent years, with climate change, repeated droughts between 2017 and 2025, and increasing consumption putting significant strain on available resources.
To address these challenges, the Kingdom has accelerated investments in large-scale hydraulic infrastructure, including dams, inter-basin water transfers and desalination plants.
