The United States, through USAID, has announced several new partnerships in Morocco to advance inclusive climate action, food security, and youth empowerment. Administrator Samantha Power, wrapping up a four-day visit, emphasized the importance of these new programs and initiatives that strengthen the longstanding partnership between USAID and Morocco.
One of the new partnerships launched by the Administrator is with the Rabita Mohammedia League of Scholars and the International Organization for Migration. This local collaboration aims to empower youth and support the Moroccan government’s efforts to address challenges faced by young Moroccans, such as limited access to quality education, high unemployment rates, and disenfranchisement. The partnership provides young people with opportunities ranging from sports clubs to vocational training.
Administrator Power also announced a new partnership with the OCP Group, a Moroccan fertilizer producer, demonstrating the commitment of USAID and OCP to combat food insecurity in Africa. Through this partnership, OCP will invest $30 million to support efficient fertilizer use across sub-Saharan Africa, in alignment with USAID’s Space to Place approach. This collaboration builds on USAID’s $40 million investment in Space to Place announced at the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit in Nairobi. The Space to Place approach offers localized fertilizer recommendations to enhance productivity for farmers. USAID has previously worked with OCP to address food, fuel, and fertilizer crises, including providing 550,000 metric tons of fertilizer for sub-Saharan Africa in 2022-2023.
Lastly, USAID announced a new partnership with Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) and GiveDirectly to launch the initial phase of USAID’s new climate program in Morocco. The Cooperative Resilience Program, funded by USAID, UM6P, and GiveDirectly, in collaboration with Morocco’s National Initiative for Human Development, will offer financing, training, and support to vulnerable Moroccan cooperatives and entrepreneurs to help them adapt to the impacts of climate change, particularly in rural areas. Local cooperatives, many of which are led by women, were instrumental in shaping the program to address the needs of Moroccans and ensure that USAID’s initiatives are community-led.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).