Morocco ramps up scientific planning to mitigate flood risks

Thursday 09 October 2025 - 12:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Morocco ramps up scientific planning to mitigate flood risks

Morocco faces growing challenges from floods, intensified by climate change and mounting pressures on natural resources. Nizar Baraka, the Minister of Equipment and Water, emphasized the urgent need for proactive planning and preventive strategies to protect both residents and property.

Speaking via the ministry’s Secretary General, Abdel Fattah Sahibi, Baraka highlighted that flood risk management is now a priority for ensuring safety and resilience across the country. His comments came during a workshop in Rabat showcasing the findings of a study on flood prevention plans in the Bouregreg basin, organized by the Bouregreg and Chaouia Hydraulic Basin Agency in partnership with the French Development Agency (AFD).

Baraka underscored that these preventive strategies are vital for regulating urban growth in flood-prone areas. The plans are designed using a scientific, technical, and participatory approach, integrating field data, hydrological studies, and urban development dynamics to create sustainable solutions tailored to each watershed.

“These plans aim to reduce infrastructure vulnerability, prevent risk escalation, and implement tangible measures for flood mitigation and management,” he said.

AFD Director Catherine Bono noted that technical teams have developed mapping, monitoring, forecasting, and early warning systems. She emphasized that effective flood prevention sits at the intersection of planning policies, resource management, and territorial governance, while fostering social cohesion through cross-sectoral approaches adapted to local realities.

Omar Chefqui, Director of the Bouregreg and Chaouia Basin Agency, described this initiative as Morocco’s first attempt to create flood prevention plans across municipalities in the Casablanca-Settat and Rabat-Sale-Kenitra regions. The project, supported by AFD, includes five municipalities, Rommani, El Maâziz, Zehilaika, Tigza, and Mrirt, and focuses on regulating land use in high-risk zones while implementing preventive measures to safeguard residents.

The project also involves developing hydrological and hydraulic models to predict flooding, enhancing resilience downstream of the Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah dam. The workshop highlighted progress made so far and outlined future steps, including installing early warning systems and launching public awareness campaigns to better prepare communities for flood hazards.