Mr. Fouzi LEKJAA, Minister Delegate in charge of the Budget, and Mr. Ioannis TSAKIRIS, Vice-President of the EIB, signed an agreement on the financing of the Integrated Post-earthquake Reconstruction and Upgrade Program, to an amount of 500 million euros, in the presence of Mr. Chakib BENMOUSSA, Minister of National Education, Preschool and Sports and Mr. Khalid AIT TALEB, Minister of Health and Social Protection.
This is the first tranche of global funding worth one billion euros, intended to support reconstruction and upgrading efforts in regions affected by the earthquake of September 8, 2023.
This agreement is part of efforts related to the mobilization of the necessary resources for the rehabilitation of essential infrastructure and basic services in these regions.
The program covered by this funding aims to:
Improve the living conditions of affected populations restoring public services and stimulating local economic recovery. Rebuild and modernize vital infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, and roads damaged by the earthquake, by improving seismic standards to ensure better resilience to disasters. Strengthening the resilience of disaster areasthrough sustainable infrastructure resistant to the effects of climate change, in accordance with the priorities of the European Union-Morocco Green partnership.
It will be implemented in two phases over a period of 5 years:
Phase 1: This phase is dedicated to interventions relating to the reconstruction of basic infrastructure, such as schools, health centers, as well as the rehabilitation of main roads in order to restore access to essential services.
Phase 2: This phase would be devoted to supporting the Moroccan government in its global upgrading actions, with a view to establishing an integrated and balanced territorial and socio-economic development model for the region.
At the end of the financing contract signing ceremony, Mr. Fouzi LEKJAA and Mr. Ioannis TSAKIRIS praised the fruitful cooperation and the exemplary partnership between the Kingdom of Morocco and the EIB.
Finally, the two senior officials expressed their desire to engage in joint reflection to strengthen access to more financial resources.
