• Empowering Women & Youth: The €100 million loan will drive entrepreneurship and job creation for women and young people in Morocco’s agricultural sector.
• Strengthening Food Security & Climate Resilience: The program will support small-scale farmers with financing, technical support, and new infrastructure to adapt to climate change.
• Deepening AfDB-Morocco Partnership: This initiative builds on a 50-year relationship, with €15 billion invested across 180 projects in critical sectors.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a €100 million (US$116.4 million) loan to Morocco to support the country’s inclusive, solidarity-based agriculture program—focused on women and youth empowerment, food security, and climate resilience.

“Women who have the ambition to undertake and succeed in agriculture are our priority,” said Achraf Tarsim, head of the AfDB’s country office in Morocco. “Through this new operation, we will support them step by step to build a modern, inclusive and resilient agriculture, capable of revealing the full potential of those who aspire to innovate and create value and employment in their territories.”

The project will stimulate rural entrepreneurship through tailored financing, incentive mechanisms, and enhanced technical and financial support systems. It also includes the deployment of new agricultural infrastructure and services aimed at integrating women into local value chains, boosting productivity, and promoting agro-processing and digital innovation.

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The initiative aligns with Morocco’s strategic frameworks, including the Green Generation 2020-2030 Strategy, the National Solidarity Agriculture Program, and the National Youth Entrepreneurship Program. Agriculture plays a critical role in Morocco’s economy—contributing around 12% to GDP and employing nearly 30% of the workforce. However, it remains vulnerable to climate variability due to its heavy reliance on rainfall.

In 2023 alone, the AfDB approved €254 million in new financing to Morocco, including support for green transition and digital transformation efforts. This latest loan continues a five-decade partnership between AfDB and Morocco, during which the Bank has invested nearly €15 billion (US$17.46 billion) in over 180 projects spanning infrastructure, energy, water, social protection, governance, and finance.

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