World Bank Approves $250 Million for Morocco’s Green Agriculture Strategy

This financing will be allocated as part of a joint operation with the French Development Agency (AFD). The objective of the results-based Génération Green program in Morocco is to make agricultural activities more profitable and promote climate-smart practices in the service of sustainable agriculture.

"By abandoning the sole criterion of production in favor of an approach encompassing the strengthening of human capital, the development of livelihoods and the deployment of climate-friendly rural value chains, this unprecedented strategy will radically change the way Morocco envisions its agricultural development. At the same time, the program will reinforce the country’s economic response to the Covid-19 crisis," said Jesko Hentschel, World Bank Country Director for the Maghreb.

The institution intends to impact the lives of 79.4% of low-income social groups concentrated in rural areas and at the same time attract young people to agriculture. To this end, it plans to finance business creation and training programs for rural people, especially women. It also plans to attract private investment in the agri-food sector by eliminating regulatory and financial barriers to job creation.

"Rural youth are an untapped resource for agricultural development. Creating outlets is essential to support the emergence of a modern agri-food sector capable of bringing jobs and prosperity to rural areas," said David Treguer, senior agricultural economist and co-team leader of the project.