The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a €100 million ($116.4 million) loan to support sustainable agriculture in Morocco, focusing on women and young people.
The initiative was announced, on Monday, as part of the strategy to enhance food security and support small-scale farmers in Morocco in adapting to climate change.
The bank said in a statement that the initiative aligns with its commitment to building inclusive and climate-smart agricultural systems across Africa.
The head of the AfDB’s Morocco office, Achraf Tarsim, said, “Women who have the ambition to undertake and succeed in agriculture are our priority.”
He explained that the new loan programme will provide essential support to women-led and youth-driven farming businesses, which are key drivers of Morocco’s development.
The €100 million loan is the latest in a series of investments the bank has made in the country.
Over the past 50 years, the AfDB has invested €15 billion ($17.46 billion) in various sectors in Morocco, including transport, energy, water, agriculture, governance, and finance.
This new funding highlights the bank’s growing emphasis on environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive agricultural development.
The programme addresses climate-related threats while improving productivity, especially in drought-prone areas.
As Morocco struggles with food and water shortages, the AfDB’s intervention is expected to support innovative practices and build long-term resilience among smallholder farmers, many of whom are vulnerable to climate shocks.
The AfDB emphasised that inclusive development remains central to its agricultural strategy and that empowering women and youth is vital to achieving long-term food security and economic growth in Morocco.
