Just water transition – Report
This report, produced by the Moroccan Institute for Policy Analysis in collaboration with Dr. Amal Ennabih, aims to explain why Morocco, which has had proactive water management policies since 1964, is experiencing severe water stress nowadays and to present the most emblematic water conflicts in Morocco.
Transitioning from a water-supply approach that favors intensive irrigation practices to a new paradigm focused on water-demand management is essential for ensuring fair and equitable access to water in Morocco. However, a critical review of the country’s water policies reveals that public authorities often perpetuate a myth: the belief that the agricultural sector can drive economic growth based on the illusion of unlimited water availability and the unrealistic promise of greening deserts. This mindset not only undermines sustainable water management but also exacerbates the risk of further water scarcity in the country.
For a just water transition the report proposes three key pathways: Breaking away from an irrigation-driven, market-oriented agricultural model and steering towards a rainfed agriculture centered on food sovereignty where irrigation comes only as a supplement; shifting from a water supply approach to demand management by regulating groundwater withdrawals and strictly enforcing water consumption controls aligned with territorial-level planification; implementing a participatory governance of water management by adopting a bottom-up approach and prioritizing local socio-economic needs and initiatives over national imperatives.
This report has been conducted within the Just Transition Green Bridge project, a three-year action (2023-2025) implemented by a regional consortium led by the Arab Reform Initiative in collaboration with Alternative Policy Solutions – American University in Cairo, and the Moroccan Institute for Policy Analysis. The initiative is funded by the European Union in the framework of the Civil Society Facility for the Mediterranean and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.
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MIPA Institute
MIPA is a non-profit independent research institution based in Rabat, Morocco. Founded by a group of transdisciplinary researchers, MIPA’s mission is to produce systematic and in-depth analysis of relevant policy issues that lead to new and innovative ideas for solving some of the most pressing issues relating to democracy.
