Supporting the foundations for sustainable adaptation planning and financing in Morocco

Given its geographical location, climate, and coastline, Morocco is highly vulnerable to climate change. The projected impacts by 2050 will significantly affect key productive sectors and infrastructures of the Moroccan economy. In 2022, Morocco suffered from a fourth consecutive year of low rainfall, facing a historic drought. With these structural vulnerabilities, the urgency of adaptation to climate change has become significant.

Morocco has undertaken numerous climate change adaptation and risk management projects, addressing specific issues such as water, agriculture, disaster risk, monitoring frameworks, data, and capacity building. However, these efforts have been implemented in isolation and in a fragmented manner, lacking a cohesive and interconnected approach. Moreover, climate change risks and adaptation needs have been excluded from development planning and investment decisions, particularly at the regional level. 

Morocco started its national adaptation planning process in 2015 and developed a detailed NAP roadmap. Achieved in 2021, the NAP serves as a comprehensive medium- and long-term adaptation strategy, incorporating key actions and strategic objectives. The formulation of the NAP involved extensive consultations with key stakeholders and received formal endorsement from the Government.

The Moroccan Climate Change Policy and the NDC (updated in 2021) outline sectoral adaptation goals and targets and highlight critical cross-cutting pillars. The project builds upon the progress to date and helps operationalize the NAP, with a specific emphasis on the subnational level, by translating strategic objectives into tangible actions. Moreover, the project aligns with and complements other ongoing initiatives in Morocco related to adaptation and climate risk management.

In addition to the main project implementing partner, the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, the project works with partners in government, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector. The project seeks to create a framework for systematically integrating adaptation needs into Morocco's development planning, building upon the existing foundation for climate change adaptation. This framework will enable the implementation of high-impact adaptation measures building on strengthened institutional arrangements for adaptation planning, including strategic coherent planning instruments aligned with national priorities and sustainable sources of adaptation finance. 

The project aims to design a framework for systematic integration of adaptation needs into the country’s development planning building upon the existing foundation for climate change adaptation. The expected results are grouped around the three main outcomes and include: 

• setting up of coordination and governance structure for adaptation at the national and regional levels; 
• strengthening national and regional M&E system; 
• improving communication and awareness on adaptation planning; 
• mainstreaming gender sensitivity into government’s planning processes;
• assessing climate risks and vulnerabilities for key sectors in three regions;
• identifying adaptation options, assessed and prioritized in the three selected regions; 
• elaborating five regional adaptation plans; 
• sustainable financing of regional adaptation plans;
• strengthened private sector engagement and investment potential.

Project updates

The project inception workshop was held in March 2022 with the participation of all project stakeholders. 

Output 1.1. Regulatory text defining coordination structure and institutions mandate is in place.

A work plan and schedule for national and regional coordination bodies were created and approved, including the development of guidelines for climate information collection and for climate change risk and vulnerability assessments at the regional level for key sectors (water, agriculture, and infrastructure).

Output 1.2. National and regional Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system for adaptation developed.

Consultations were undertaken on building the M&E system, involving the development of climate change metrics and indicators linked to existing initiatives in Morocco. Activities have included analyzing existing systems, proposing scenarios for consolidating national platforms (MRV), drafting a guideline for gathering standardized climate information, including loss and damage data and socio-economic and gender-disaggregated data to feed into the M&E system, and assessing improvements for the Regional Information System on Environment and Sustainable Development (SIREDD).

Output 1.3. Communication and awareness to support effective adaptation planning improved.

A communication and awareness strategy was prepared and published in 2023, including the design of an adaptation repository website. 

Output 1.4. Gender sensitivity is applied and addressed throughout the project life-span.

Stakeholder consultations were held in 2023, including a stocktaking of existing approaches and identifying good practices for gender integration into the project.

Output 2.1. Climate risks and vulnerabilities assessed in key sectors in 5 regions.

Consultations for mapping existing datasets and metrics were launched in 2023, accompanied by consultations for establishing guidelines and methodologies for regional-level climate change risk and vulnerability assessments in key sectors. 

Output 2.2. Adaptation measures identified, assessed, and prioritized in the 5 selected.

Adaptation measures have been identified, assessed, and prioritized in five selected regions (Souss Massa, Marrakech Safi, Béni Mellal-Khenifra, Draa Tafilalet, and Oriental). Consultations related to the elaboration of regional adaptation plans for the pilot regions were held in 2023.

Output 2.3. Five regional adaptation plans formulated and integration with regional development and land-use plans facilitated.

The updated territorial climate plans (PCTs) adaptation chapter for the five pilot regions is being developed, along with a guideline for integrating PCTs into regional development and planning. Two interregional dialogues with the pilot regions are being arranged.

Output 3.1. Sustainable financing of regional adaptation plans strengthened.

Efforts to bolster sustainable financing for regional adaptation plans are in progress through consultations and activities. This includes developing an indicative project pipeline and conducting pre-feasibility studies for key adaptation priorities in each region. 

Output 3.2. The private sector is strongly engaged and, its capacity to support adaptation is further enhanced.

At the national level, the House of Representatives of the Kingdom of Morocco adopted on October 18, 2022, framework law No. 03.22 forming the Investment Charter. This framework law aims to "promote private investment” to reach the rate of two-thirds of total investment by 2035, following the recommendations included in the New Development Model. This legislative breakthrough is helping to promote private-sector engagement in adaptation.

A two-day national climate investment forum was held in 2023, targeting financial institutions and private equity funds to discuss opportunities and challenges in private investments for adaptation. An assessment of the status, barriers, and opportunities for private sector investment was also undertaken.

Output 3.3. The private sector´s investment potential in adaptation is further strengthened.

The private sector's investment potential in adaptation is being strengthened through activities such as analyzing the interest, feasibility, and costs for setting up business incubators and organizing an ‘Adaptation Innovation Competition’ to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship. Additionally, an analysis of the national catastrophic risk insurance program through a public-private partnership is being conducted.