*Mr. Sadiki Chairs “Climate Resilience Days in Morocco” Forum in Sale
On Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Salé, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests, Mr. Mohamed Sadiki, chaired the opening of the “Climate Resilience Days in Morocco” forum. The event, organized in partnership with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), runs from June 25 to 28, 2024. The forum was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, representatives from IWMI and CGIAR/ICARDA and officials from the Ministry of Equipment and Water, donors, and international organizations.
The Climate Resilience Days in Morocco were developed as a key participatory forum dedicated to exploring and reflecting on the state of Moroccan water and agricultural systems in the face of climate change challenges. According to the organizers, the event aims to enrich Morocco’s roadmap for increasing climate change resilience by providing a platform to unveil and transfer the latest findings, solutions, and recommendations from IWMI, emphasizing the importance of research, development, and partnerships for proactive climate challenge management.
In his speech, Mr. Sadiki highlighted Morocco’s decades-long efforts to ensure sustainable growth less dependent on climate fluctuations and to guarantee reliable and flexible water provision. These efforts are part of a proactive policy based on bold agricultural and water strategies, with a particular focus on rationalizing water resource use to address the increasing scarcity of this vital asset.
Mr. Sadiki also underscored the importance of this event as a significant opportunity to exchange knowledge, experiences, and best practices to enhance capacities, identify innovative solutions, and develop strong partnerships to address water governance challenges in the context of increasing drought.
Additionally, Mr. Sadiki highlighted the ongoing commitment of the international research community including CGIAR represented by ICARDA in Morocco and which could include other Research Centers, such as IWMI, under OneCGIAR/ CWANA F2R initiative to face those climate-resilient challenges in agriculture sector, calling for increased efforts to support the most vulnerable zones in their quest for sustainable management of this vital resource.
Dr. Rachel McDonnell, Deputy Director of IWMI, affirmed that the Climate Resilience Days in Morocco reflect their commitment to continuing and expanding partnerships that lead to tangible adaptation strategies. She noted that IWMI’s partnership with Morocco has already resulted in a robust drought preparedness plan for the country, and ongoing projects on water accounting and multi-level resilience governance are strengthening both parties’ commitment to sustainable water management.
On this occasion, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests, represented by the Directorate of Irrigation and Agricultural Land Planning, and IWMI. This agreement aims to develop the sector of reusing treated wastewater in agriculture, improve water productivity in agricultural areas and farms, and support sustainable agricultural growth.
It is worth noting that IWMI , as other CGIAR centers, is a non-profit organization dedicated to development. The institute works with governments, civil society, and the private sector to address water issues in developing countries.
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