Providing state-of-the-art solutions to address Morocco's urgent water needs.
Like its neighboring countries in the region, Morocco is faced with the challenge of sustainably developing and managing its water resources. With its growing population, rapid urbanization, and developing economy – including industrial growth in the mining and agricultural sectors, both heavy water users – mitigating Morocco’s water scarcity is a national priority. The growing uncertainty of such a critical resource is becoming an additional source of tension and potential instability both in Morocco and across the region.
USAID RESPONSE
Recognizing water as a national security issue for Morocco and its neighbors in the region, USAID is using innovation and technology to establish state-of-the-art and sustainable water management practices in Morocco. The H2O Maghreb activity implemented cutting edge solutions to address urgent water needs in Morocco and the region, while improving the skills and employability of young Moroccans by providing them with a market-driven training program in a newly established water training hub.
By developing a new water management curriculum, the H2O partnership brought together the public and private sector to provide innovative training and equipment within the sector. The H2O training program combines elements from different professions (e.g. mechanics, electronics, hydraulics, chemistry, biology), thereby meeting the challenges of improving water management, access to water, and water quality in a systematic manner.
RESULTS TO DATE
- Assessed current and future skills and job needs in the Moroccan water sector.
- Established a training hub in Rabat with state-of-the-art equipment and virtual reality tools.
- Developed a six-month training course for the next generation of Moroccan water professionals, including 23 training modules and 37 training manuals and workbooks, focused on drinking water, wastewater, operation, and maintenance. These training materials, initially developed in French, were all translated to English, in order to facilitate their potential transfer to training to countries in the Middle East and North Africa region and Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Developed digitial training contents, including 13 e-learning modules, 10 virtual reality applications and one mobile lesson.
- Trained 10 trainers from Morocco’s main water stakeholder (ONEE).
- Trained 112 young Moroccans in water management and 164 water professionals.
- Empowered Moroccan women to work in the water sector, with 76% of the trainees being female.
- Developed a fully-fledged two-year degree that was accredited by the Government of Morocco.
- Showcased the project at multiple conferences (e.g., 19th Congress of the African Water Association in Bamako, Global Environment Facility IWC9 in Marrakech, World Water Week in Stockholm in 2019).
- Liased with water utilities in several countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to replicate the project.
FACTS & FIGURES
IMPLEMENTING PARTNER:
United Nations Industrial Development Organization
HOST-COUNTRY PARTNERS:
National Office of Electricity and Water
Ministry of Equipment and Water
Ministry of National Education, Vocational Training, Higher Education and Scientific Research
PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS:
FESTO Didactic SE
EON Reality
LOCATION:
TOTAL ESTIMATED BUDGET:
USAID CONTRIBUTION:
DURATION:
KEY CONTACT:
Salma Kadiri, Project Management Specialist, skadiri@usaid.gov
