Morocco suffers from scarce water resources and increasing water demand.

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 implements cutting edge solutions to 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 brings together the public and private sector in order to provide innovative training and equipment. 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 fully functional 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 19 training modules in drinking water, wastewater, operation and maintenance, as well as 28 booklets and workbooks.
• Developed a two-year degree in wastewater management that was accredited by the Government of Morocco.
• Trained 10 trainers from Morocco’s main water stakeholder (ONEE).
• Trained three intakes (to date) with 66 young Moroccan students in water management and 151 water professionals.
• Enhanced Moroccan womens' participation in the sector with 76 percent of the student trainees being female.
• 75 percent of the graduates from the first intake found employment within six months of completing their training.
• Over 80 percent of the graduates from the first two intakes were satisfied with the quality of their training.
• H2O Maghreb has been showcased at multiple regional and global conferences (e.g. the 19th Congress of the African Water Association in Bamako, the Global Environment Facility IWC9 in Marrakech, and World Water Week in Stockholm in 2019) and has liaised with water utility providers in several countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to replicate the project.