The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Union (EU), and the Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture are joining forces to launch an ambitious integrated water resource management program in the Fès-Meknès plain, a strategic region in the heart of Morocco’s agricultural landscape.
Named SGIRE-Fès-Meknès, this project is part of the Saïss and Garet Basin Conservation Program. It aims to establish a sustainable technical governance framework for both groundwater and surface water through a modernized approach based on data, consultation, and innovation.
The initiative, currently in international call for tenders, falls within the agro-industrial sector and is funded by the EBRD through the Neighbourhood Investment Platform (NIP) of the European Union. The procedure, open to all eligible companies via the ECEPP electronic portal, remains accessible until November 24, 2025. The contract will be funded by the European Union, in line with the Bank’s standards of transparency and competition.
The project will be implemented under the supervision of the Sebou Hydraulic Basin Agency (ABHS), a public contractor responsible for planning and monitoring water resources in the region. The goal is to equip the plain with efficient hydrological analysis and planning systems to track groundwater levels, prevent over-exploitation, and optimize agricultural and urban uses.
As a true laboratory for water transition, SGIRE-Fès-Meknès aims to introduce modern tracking and management technologies while fostering enhanced collaboration among local, national, and international stakeholders. According to the EBRD, the objective is to achieve a rational and coordinated use of this resource in a region where pressure on aquifers has intensified in recent years due to the combined effects of climate change and intensive irrigation.
Beyond its technical dimension, this program illustrates the convergence of Moroccan and European policies around a shared priority: preserving water, a vital element for food security and agricultural sustainability. It also marks the strengthening of the partnership between Morocco and the EBRD, which is now closely supporting the structural projects for the Kingdom’s ecological and water transition.