In the face of growing climate challenges, Morocco is establishing itself as a continental model for water resource management. With a comprehensive strategy backed by an investment of 150 billion dirhams, the Kingdom is actively sharing its technical expertise – notably through the International Institute for Water and Sanitation based in Rabat – to support its African partners in gaining access to essential services.
Morocco celebrated the 63rd anniversary of Africa Day on 25 May 2026 in Rabat. Chaired by Nasser Bourita, the ceremony brought together the African diplomatic corps to promote South-South solidarity. This year’s edition elevated water resource management as a continental priority in response to climate challenges. Morocco is actively sharing its technical expertise through the International Institute for Water and Sanitation. This initiative forms part of the South-South solidarity policy promoted by King Mohammed VI. The celebration also provided an opportunity to reaffirm the Kingdom’s commitment to Africa’s stability and prosperity.
“The Kingdom of Morocco attaches great importance to water issues across the continent. Morocco is in fact a model for Africa given the challenges it faces. Morocco has its own realities and responds to these challenges, and based on this experience, it seeks to share its expertise with its African partners. The same applies to issues such as migration and terrorism. We always speak from our own experience and strive to provide Moroccan solutions that we then seek to share with the African continent.”
Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs – Morocco
Beyond the technical issue of water, the event served as a platform to reaffirm Morocco’s commitment to stability and unity. Mouhamadou Youssifou, Ambassador of Cameroon and Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps in Morocco, highlighted the importance of the occasion in honouring the founding fathers while calling for a more pragmatic form of integration in response to economic shocks and persistent conflicts.
“The celebration of Africa Day is a moment of duty to honour the memory of the founding fathers of African unity and to take a forward-looking and pragmatic view of the Africa of tomorrow, the one we wish to leave to our children. Despite a frequently difficult context, marked in particular by the persistence of intra-African conflicts that drain resources intended for development, as well as economic and financial shocks caused mainly by external factors, African integration continues to be built progressively.”
Mouhamadou Youssifou, Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps in Morocco – Cameroon
Building on its technical expertise, Morocco is implementing the National Programme for Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation (PNAEPI 2020–2027), a major investment programme worth 150 billion dirhams. Supported by a network of 156 large dams, the Kingdom is also accelerating the use of seawater desalination. Its ambition is to achieve a desalinated water production capacity of 1.7 billion cubic metres by 2030 in order to guarantee its water sovereignty.
“Morocco has adopted a resolutely proactive approach to the water challenge. As you know, the Kingdom currently chairs the African Ministers’ Council on Water for the 2025–2027 period. A pioneer in dam policy, Morocco has also established the Hassan II World Water Prize. These awards now play a crucial role in raising awareness of the importance of this resource and supporting initiatives aimed at promoting its sustainable management.”
Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs – Morocco
“Today, Morocco has more than 150 large dams and more than 300 small dams, enabling farmers to carry out their activities freely and allowing the population access to safe drinking water for human consumption. Indeed, Morocco has made access to drinking water a priority through the National Programme for Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation 2020–2027 and the National Water Plan 2020–2050.”
Mouhamadou Youssifou, Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps in Morocco – Cameroon
This celebration once again confirms the Kingdom’s policy of belonging, positioning Rabat as a key hub for dialogue and co-development across the African continent.
