Saiss Water Conservation Program - Final Phase

awarded

The project involves the construction of a water distribution network to irrigate 20,000 hectares in the water-scarce Saiss plain in the Fez-Meknes region of Morocco. It aims to replace unsustainable groundwater abstraction with sustainable surface water use by transferring 90-120 million cubic meters of water annually from the M’Dez dam to the Saiss plain for irrigation. The program benefits approximately 5,000 farms and 1.8 million people, alleviating pressure on the Saiss aquifer and enhancing agricultural resilience. It includes implementation of a SCADA-based system for remote management of the irrigation network and focuses on gender and economic inclusion through technical cooperation initiatives.