Morocco and the European Union have launched a groundbreaking initiative to strengthen water resource management. The Ministry of Equipment and Water, in collaboration with the EU, Germany, Italy, and France, unveiled this ambitious project in Rabat on June 2, 2026. The program, designed to support the National Water Plan (PNE), boasts a total funding package of 3.7 billion Moroccan dirhams (approximately 348 million euros).

The launch ceremony brought together the Minister of Economy and Finance alongside representatives from European partner nations. This pioneering initiative aligns with the ‘Team Europe’ approach, which coordinates EU and member state efforts around strategic projects.

The funding structure combines 514.4 million dirhams in EU grants with nearly 3.2 billion dirhams in concessional loans from three major European financial institutions: Germany’s KfW development bank, Italy’s Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), and France’s Agence Française de Développement (AFD), which leads the initiative.

The program targets four key objectives: enhancing water resource knowledge amid climate impacts, strengthening extreme weather management (droughts and floods), protecting groundwater reserves, and building institutional capacity within the water sector. Technical assistance will play a crucial role in achieving these goals while fostering knowledge exchange between European and Moroccan partners.

During the event, Minister of Equipment and Water Nizar Baraka emphasized water’s dual role as a heritage to preserve for future generations and a strategic national sovereignty issue. He highlighted Morocco’s proactive approach to water management, transforming its model to address increasing drought challenges. The minister noted that this new program will bolster the country’s climate resilience and ensure sustainable water resource management.

For the European Union, this initiative demonstrates commitment to supporting Morocco in sustainable natural resource management. The EU Ambassador to Morocco, Dimiter Tzantchev, stated that the program aligns perfectly with the Morocco-EU Green Partnership and Mediterranean Pact priorities, which prioritize climate resilience and water management in Euro-Mediterranean cooperation. He emphasized that the ‘Team Europe’ approach enables mobilization of complementary financial and technical resources to deliver concrete solutions to shared climate challenges.

Like much of the Mediterranean basin, Morocco faces growing pressure on its water resources. Between 2017 and 2025, the Kingdom experienced multiple severe droughts while water demand continued rising due to population growth and economic development.

This new program reinforces ongoing efforts under the National Water Plan and the 2020-2027 National Drinking Water and Irrigation Program (PNAEPI).

The ambassadors from Germany, Italy, and France unanimously praised the initiative as a potential model for regional cooperation.

Germany’s KfW will focus on climate adaptation and groundwater protection. Italy will leverage its water resource management expertise while promoting gender equality in the sector. France’s AFD will ensure effective program implementation by integrating climate resilience and gender equality considerations.