The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a €100 million ($116.4 million) loan to support sustainable agriculture in Morocco, with a strong emphasis on empowering women and youth-led farming initiatives.
Announced on Monday, the financing package aims to strengthen food security, enhance resilience to climate change, and drive inclusive growth in Morocco’s agricultural sector. The initiative is part of AfDB’s broader strategy to promote climate-smart and socially inclusive agricultural systems across the continent.
“Women who have the ambition to undertake and succeed in agriculture are our priority,” said Achraf Tarsim, head of the AfDB’s Morocco office. He noted that the programme will offer vital backing to women-led and youth-driven agribusinesses, which are seen as critical to Morocco’s long-term development agenda.
The loan comes amid rising concerns over climate variability and its impact on rural livelihoods, particularly in Morocco’s drought-prone regions. The bank expects the funds to help drive innovation, increase productivity, and build long-term resilience in the agricultural sector.
This latest investment brings the AfDB’s total commitment to Morocco to €15 billion ($17.46 billion) over the last five decades, spanning key sectors such as transportation, water, energy, agriculture, governance, social protection, and finance.
The loan also reaffirms the bank’s commitment to environmental sustainability and inclusive development, principles that remain central to its approach to supporting Africa’s agricultural transformation.
