CONTEXT and CHALLENGES

A country in the Maghreb region, Morocco has a broad Atlantic and Mediterranean coastline. The country is cut in two by the impressive Atlas mountain range, forming a physical and climate barrier. The mountainous Rif region in the North also acts as a climate screen.

This geographical situation plays an important part in the diversity of climates and landscapes in the country. As the fifth largest economic power in Africa, the Kingdom of Morocco is among countries in the process of economic and social transition but is characterized by major inequalities, particularly significant energy poverty.

While firewood use is still extensive and a drain on forest resources, alternatives are emerging, which need to go hand in hand with greater energy efficiency and awareness of energy demand management on the part of households and professionals.

The Kingdom is committed to a strategy of developing renewable energies and combating climate change, which needs to be rooted in effective territorial planning in line with the current dynamics of decentralization.

GERES IN MOROCCO

Geres has worked in Morocco since the 1980s on projects relating to sustainable management of biomass energy. It is gradually moving towards more comprehensive control of energy demand, by helping communities, businesses and territories with their energy transition. More recently, Geres has stepped up its contribution to the economic development of VSEs/SMEs, seeing energy as an effective lever in enhancing their competitiveness.

Just some of the flagship projects in the last few years:

• Support for the territorial energy transition: SUDEP project in Chefchaouen municipality (including the operationalization of the first Info Energy Center in Morocco) and also, a project focused on improving the energy efficiency of school buildings in the province of Midelt as part of the CEMAATERR program
• A pilot operation to strengthen the economic position of an informal sector by taking action on energy efficiency (Sustainable Hammams project in Morocco).
• Upgrading industrial and craft activities by incorporating the energy transition as a lever of economic development (FaranEco project, supporting SMEs producing gas-fired ovens and small bakery businesses).

A permanent team is based at an office in Rabat.

Contact in Maroco

Virginie KLEIN
maroc@geres.eu