The Ministry of Equipment and Water, in collaboration with the German and Danish Embassies in Morocco, initiated a new cooperation project in the water sector on Monday in Rabat. The project, titled «Sustainable territories - Sustainable and resilient lifestyles in Morocco», aims to enhance water availability and foster inclusive economic development in the High Atlas region, which suffered significant damage from the September 2023 earthquake. With a budget of €12 million, the project is co-funded by the German and Danish governments and will be executed by the German Development Cooperation Agency (GIZ). It seeks to aid earthquake-affected areas and promote innovative governance of natural resources, notably through the implementation of the Ourika river contract. The initiative focuses on four key areas: water resource governance, reconstruction, economic recovery, and the promotion of skills necessary to generalize and replicate innovative practices tested under the project. During the launch, Minister of Equipment and Water, Nizar Baraka, highlighted that following the 2023 earthquake, the Moroccan government has undertaken various initiatives to address the urgent needs of affected populations while adopting a strategic vision for water resource management. German Ambassador to Morocco, Robert Dölger, emphasized the importance of implementing integrated adaptation approaches through this project to improve local livelihoods and ensure sustainable economic activities. He reiterated Germany's commitment to joint climate change adaptation efforts. Similarly, Danish Ambassador to Morocco, Berit Basse, pointed out that the project's ambitious objectives require both social and technical innovation. She highlighted Denmark's commitment to improving local livelihoods and promoting nature-based solutions through this project. Morocco's National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF) Managing Director, Abderrahim Houmy, described the initiative as a beacon of hope and opportunity for earthquake-affected regions, underscoring a strong commitment to population resilience, sustainable natural resource management, and combating climate change impacts. On the sidelines of the project launch, an agreement was signed by Morocco's Director General of Hydraulic Engineering, Abdelaziz Zerouali, Head of GIZ's North Africa Department, Doreen Fontaine, and Senior Technical Advisor Anne Chaponnière. A second partnership agreement was also signed by Director of Morocco's Tensift Water Basin Agency (ABHT), Mohamed Chtioui, ANEF MarrakechSafi Regional Director, Abdelaziz Hajjaji, and Chaponnière, outlining the terms and conditions for implementing the project's activities and the resources to be employed.
