Saturday, May 25, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.
– Comments collected by: Al Mustapha SGUENFLE –
Bali (Indonesia) – The president of the World Water Council, Loïc Fauchon, discusses Morocco’s contribution to the World Water Forum in an interview with MAP.
In this interview carried out on the sidelines of the 10th edition of the Forum, which ended Friday in Bali, he addresses Morocco’s achievements in the field as well as the main challenges facing the African continent’s water resources.
What is your assessment of Morocco’s contribution to the World Water Forum?
Morocco and the World Water Forum have been inseparable for almost 30 years. Let us remember that the first World Water Forum was held in Marrakech (in 1997, editor’s note). Since then, Morocco has been present at all editions of the Forum, in particular since 2003, when HM the King decided to create the Hassan II World Water Grand Prize, which marks all the opening ceremonies of the Forum since the Kyoto edition, Japan.
The Moroccan presence has a wide scope and is also distinguished by the participation of Moroccan representatives working in the field of water, whether public or private actors.
What is your view on Morocco’s achievements in terms of protecting water resources?
Morocco is a major water nation with recognized expertise in water resources management. This is largely due to the dam construction policy implemented by the late HM Hassan II and continued by HM King Mohammed VI, as well as initiatives such as the transfer of water between surplus and deficit dams, which today guarantees the security of Casablanca’s water needs.
Morocco was one of the first countries to adopt the use of unconventional water resources, such as seawater desalination and wastewater recycling. Walking along the coast of Rabat, you can see the watering of green spaces with recycled water.
Desalination, recycling, improved groundwater treatment, water transfer… Morocco now masters all the main techniques related to water.
What are the main challenges facing Africa in the area of water?
The water situation in Africa is very contrasting, with regions experiencing shortages and others where water resources are abundant. Approaches to handling these situations differ.
Africa needs water aid, increased innovation, better governance and financing.
This is why the World Water Council launched the Water Financing Coalition during the Bali Forum, which aims to connect donors with project leaders in need of financing.
Currently, Africa has a population of 1.8 billion people, a figure expected to reach 4 billion by the end of the century. Therefore, Africa will also face the challenge of food security, which is closely linked to the water issue.
Moroccan expertise, which is recognized in countries such as Senegal, Mali and Gabon, can play a decisive role to this end, and must be consolidated and intensified.
