Morocco

The Moroccan population is young: some 28% of inhabitants are under 15. Their integration into society poses a major challenge: only one Moroccan in two in the 25-35 age group has a job, which is often informal and precarious. 

Education, vocational training and employment are central to AFD’s action in Morocco.

For example, we have supported the emergency program to improve access to the education system for all. Today, we are working in partnership with the Moroccan authorities to implement the new Education Strategy (2015-2030). The objective: enhance the quality of education and ensure equitable access to it. 

AFD is also involved in vocational training. For example, we are financing the construction of 25 vocational training centers in high-potential economic sectors: transport, mechanics, agribusiness, aeronautics, automotive, building, audiovisual, fashion and design, crafts, leather, renewable energies and energy efficiency, etc.

Following on from this action, we have supported the “Employment and Skills Development” program to ensure a better match between market needs and the skills of Moroccans. 

Finally, to promote job creation, we are supporting the development of Moroccan companies (microenterprises and SMEs), in particular in the agriculture sector (which employs 49% of the working population). We are also supporting the banking and financial sector.  

Agriculture is a key sector for the country: it employs 4 million people, i.e. 74% of employment in rural areas, and accounts for some 15% of GDP (excluding agribusiness). However, the issues related to the agriculture sector are not simply about the economic aspect: they also concern food security, the balance between territories and the management of natural resources. This is especially because agriculture is the first activity threatened by the impacts of climate change – the drought in 2015 served as a reminder of this.

For some 25 years now, AFD has been working in partnership with government authorities to strengthen agricultural infrastructure and develop rural areas.

For example, we are financing the “Green Morocco Plan” to modernize the agriculture sector and the “Halieutis Plan” to develop the fishing sector. 
 

Morocco is facing growing urbanization and its cities need to address a number of issues to ensure the well-being of their populations, because urbanization is poorly controlled, there is a proliferation of insalubrious housing and poverty is increasing. Consequently, Moroccan cities need to become safer, more open, resilient and sustainable. 

Our action in Morocco to strengthen urban integration and social cohesion is multifaceted:

• We are supporting the “Cities without Slums” program of Al Omrane to reduce insalubrious housing. We also promote the development of sustainable cities (Eco-city of Zenata).
• We are increasing access to basic services, such as drinking water and sanitation, in order to improve living conditions for city dwellers. For example, we have supported Morocco’s National Sanitation Program.
• We are developing urban transport networks. For example, AFD has financed the tramways in Rabat and Casablanca and is involved in their extension. We are also supporting the construction of Africa’s first high-speed railway line which will link up Tangiers and Kenitra in 2018.  

With one of the highest levels of sunshine in the world, Morocco has huge solar potential. Its desert areas are particularly suited to concentrated solar power (CSP) plants. 

Solar power: a solution for the future to produce renewable energy in a country without oil or gas, which imports 95% of the energy it consumes. Morocco has consequently decided to turn to its natural resources and has launched the “NOOR Plan”, a solar program that contributes to the ambitious objective for renewable energy development: 52% of power from renewable energy sources by 2030.

AFD is supporting the dynamics in Morocco. We are supporting:

• The construction of the largest thermodynamic solar complex in South countries, NOOR Ouarzazate (with a capacity of over 500 MW);
• The training institutes for renewable energy and energy efficiency activities (IFMEREE);
• The European multi-donor MORSEFF initiative. The objective: credit lines for local banks to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy investments in industry, retail trade and construction. 

Morocco is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, as shown by the severe drought in 2015. The country has reacted by launching several “green policies” to fight against climate change, and has become one of the African leaders on the issue.

AFD is a leading partner of the Kingdom: 50% of our commitments are for the climate, representing an annual average of EUR 150m between 2011 and 2015, and our action goes well beyond support for Morocco’s solar sector. 

In the agriculture sector, we are supporting the ACCAGRIMAG program, a pilot project to adapt agriculture to climate change in the Maghreb region. The objective: change practices in order to integrate new meteorological conditions, with a focus on climate insurance.

In industry, we are strengthening the sustainable development strategies of companies. For example, we have financed the water strategy of the Cherifian Office for Phosphates (OCP), a project which optimizes treated wastewater reuse with the aim of putting an end to all withdrawals from aquifers.

In the building sector: we are supporting the development of the Taghazout Bay seaside resort, the first project with the High Environmental Quality (HEQ) certification in Morocco.

Through a partnership with BMCE, we are also helping the financial sector strengthen its range of financing for projects for the protection of water resources, industrial depollution, recycling and water reuse in Morocco.