Morocco Saiss Plain

About

EBRD provided a sovereign loan to the government of Morocco to enable a switch from unsustainable groundwater abstraction to more sustainable and climate resilient surface water resources, which contribute to the restoration and climate resilience of the Saiss aquifer. The loan will also help reduce climate displacement risks through water management and ecosystem-based adaptation.

Approach and impact

With the support of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the EU, the EBRD promotes women’s participation in a water-resilient agricultural sector. Even though women comprise nearly 50 per cent of the agricultural labour force in Morocco, women’s employment is almost entirely informal. Women’s low literacy levels in the Saiss plain (between 56-64 per cent) make them less likely to seize economic opportunities. The project will improve women’s access to economic opportunities through sustainable climate-smart agriculture by increasing the number of women-led agri-micro- small and medium- sized enterprises in Saiss, promoting women’s engagement and enhancing women farmers’ capacity on sustainable farming.