Rabat hosts global seminar on climate adaptation funding

The city of Rabat is hosting an annual seminar organized by the Adaptation Fund, bringing together representatives from 33 accredited entities to discuss climate adaptation funding, project management, and institutional capacity building.

During the event, Mikko Ollikainen, director of the Adaptation Fund, praised Morocco’s model for direct access to climate finance and its ability to manage projects locally. A key highlight is the Agricultural Development Agency’s (ADA) success with the “Adaptation to Climate Change in Oasis Areas” project (PACCZO), which received $10 million and helped 1.7 million people build resilience against water stress by modernizing traditional irrigation systems.

Building on this success, the ADA has submitted a new $20 million proposal to the Adaptation Fund. This five-year project aims to revitalize oases in the Draa basin, specifically targeting the provinces of Ouarzazate, Zagora, and Tinghir. The initiative focuses on water resource management, climate-adapted agriculture, and income diversification, with priority given to women and rural youth.

Despite these advancements, significant financial needs remain. Rachid Tahiri of the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development estimated that Morocco will require $306 billion by 2035 to address climate challenges, with approximately two-thirds of that amount dedicated to the water sector.