Migrations & Development

The project

Context :

The project takes place in Morocco, in the Souss-Massa and Drâa Tafilalet regions, and involves three communities in the Siroua Massif. It aims to preserve the territory, environment and rich cultural heritage of indigenous communities, threatened by climate change and increasing water stress. In this mountainous area with low rainfall (250-500 mm/year), access to water is increasingly difficult, with springs drying up and soils deteriorating. Working with local residents, the project aims to protect water resources, promote traditional know-how and improve water use.

Approach :

The project supports villagers in the face of prolonged drought in three ways:

• Water conservation: Development of springs and catchment systems to limit losses, in consultation with local communities.
• Equitable distribution: Rehabilitation of traditional water management practices and creation of inclusive consultation forums.
• Optimized use: Training in water-saving agroecological techniques (irrigation, hydroponics, composting).

The actions to be implemented and the role of the setec Foundation :

This project, initiated in 2017, began with a diagnosis and needs identification phase, followed by the launch of land development actions in July 2023. The setec Foundation is providing financial support of 44,000 euros for the third phase, dedicated to analyzing impacts and capitalizing on results, with several actions planned over one year:

Agro-ecological development of a pilot site with monitoring of natural resources.

• Enhanced consultation on water management: progress in shared management and extension of training to collective land management in 2025.
• Agroecological training: sessions for farmers and follow-up visits until 2025 to evaluate water-saving techniques.
• Revitalize ancestral charters and practices for managing and sharing water resources.
• Training farmers in herd management: optimizing travel.
• Scientific support and hydrological monitoring: experts mobilized to analyze hydrological data and demonstrate the effectiveness of actions.
• Capitalization: sharing results via media, videos, and local and national seminars to promote the solutions developed.

Impacts

• Environmental: Reservoirs and stone barriers promote infiltration, reduce erosion and restore biodiversity. Vegetation is three times more abundant and arthropods 1.5 times more numerous in landscaped areas.
• Social: Collective water management, via consultation forums, limits tensions and strengthens the involvement of local residents in local decision-making.
• Economic: Farmers save up to 4,200 MAD/year (€400) by adopting agroecological techniques.
• Climate adaptation: The project protects water resources, maintains biodiversity and supports agro-pastoral activities, guaranteeing dignified living conditions for the people of the Anti-Atlas.

Our colleague, Rabab Amajjout, setec Maroc, is the project’s godmother and will act as the local relay for the setec Foundation.