By Abdullahi Lukman
Morocco is stepping up efforts to improve water governance in the Tensift basin, one of its most vulnerable regions, through a new climate adaptation project supported by Germany.
The initiative aims to modernize the measurement, monitoring, and management of water resources, addressing long-term scarcity challenges despite recent increases in dam storage.
Following heavy rainfall, Morocco’s national dam reserves reached 5.64 billion cubic meters by the end of December 2025, a 16.9 percent rise from the previous year.
Authorities, however, warn that structural pressures, erratic rainfall, and rising demand continue to threaten water availability.
The project, called “GIREau VI,” focuses on enhancing hydroclimatic data collection across the basin.
Upgrades include expanded hydrological, piezometric, and meteorological monitoring networks, modernized data collection tools, and digital platforms for real-time analysis.
The goal is to support more informed water allocation among agriculture, urban centers, and environmental needs.
A key feature of GIREau VI is a flood early-warning system using simulation and forecasting models, designed to anticipate risks before they escalate.
The same approach will be applied to drought management, allowing preventive action instead of emergency responses.
Fully financed by KfW under Morocco-Germany cooperation, the project will engage national and international firms for system deployment, procurement, and capacity building.
Scheduled over 30 months, it is positioned as a long-term investment in resilience rather than a short-term solution.
GIREau VI also reflects a broader shift in Morocco’s water strategy toward integrating data, forecasting, and governance with traditional infrastructure such as dams and desalination plants.
