With the help of the World Bank, Morocco has made significant strides in strengthening its disaster and climate resilience since 2008, the international financial institution stated in a recent report. The World Bank commended Morocco's advancements in strengthening disaster and climate resilience since 2008, achieved through a collaborative effort. In a note, published Thursday, the World Bank highlighted the Kingdom's shift from a post-disaster approach to a proactive strategy focused on risk reduction, preparedness, and financial protection. This transition was facilitated by several joint operations and technical assistance activities. «Morocco has gradually moved from a focus on ex-post emergency response toward a more integrated disaster risk management (DRM) approach with a strong focus on ex-ante disaster risk reduction and financial preparedness», the World Bank stated. Financial and Technical Support The World Bank's contributions included three International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) loans totaling $575 million, a $5 million grant from the Global Shield Financing Facility (GSFF), and technical assistance funded through the Global Facility for Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). These resources supported institutional reforms, capacity building, risk reduction investments, and a comprehensive disaster risk finance and insurance regime. Additionally, technical assistance focused on urban resilience, critical infrastructure, building regulations, and disaster risk finance. Measurable achievements Between 2016 and 2024, the World Bank helped finance and implement over 230 disaster risk reduction projects worth $304 million. These projects included flood protection measures, early warning systems, disaster risk mapping, and the transformation of Morocco's Fund for the Fight against Natural Catastrophes (FLCN) from an emergency response tool into a national resilience fund. Over 400,000 people directly benefited from these initiatives, with over 33 million indirect beneficiaries nationwide. In 2020, Morocco established a dedicated Directorate for Disaster Risk Management within the Ministry of Interior. The following year, the country adopted its first National Disaster Risk Management Strategy (2021-2030), leading to the creation of action plans with ongoing programs and projects. Morocco also implemented an innovative disaster risk insurance regime in 2016, followed by a public solidarity fund (FSEC) for uninsured populations. The FSEC's effectiveness was demonstrated after the 2023 Al-Haouz earthquake, when it distributed approximately $300 million to cover eligible losses. Building preparedness and understanding A flood risk early warning system, operational since 2023, benefits an estimated 240,000 people in pilot areas. Additionally, a catastrophe risk model (MnhPRA) was developed in 2012 to estimate the economic impact of potential disasters. Since 2021, the FSEC has conducted further risk modeling and coordinated urban resilience strategies that can be replicated in other municipalities. A National Risk Observatory is also being strengthened for full operationalization. The World Bank concluded by emphasizing the critical importance of disaster risk reduction and preparedness, and pledged continued support for Morocco's ongoing efforts.
