The US Agency for International Development (USAID) is financing eight socio-economic projects in the Al Haouz region, which witnessed the deadliest earthquake in 120 years in Morocco on September 8.
With a budget of MAD 2 million ($200,803), the projects will focus on employment, entrepreneurship, cultural animation, and women’s empowerment.
The projects will cover different municipalities in the earthquake-affected areas as part of the country’s earthquake relief efforts.
Juan Carlos Rodriguez, the acting director of USAID, said that the key goal is to support civil society so that it can play its role in promoting the areas affected by the earthquake.
The USAID official emphasized that the agency aims to consolidate the relief efforts that the country and all stakeholders have already deployed.
Ahmed Jazouli, Director of the Inclusive Economic and Social Development program in the Marrakech-Safi region, expressed satisfaction with the launch of the project, emphasizing that working with civil society organizations and providing constant support to relief initiatives aims to boost the capacities of beneficiaries to be more effective in their activities.
He stressed the importance of joint efforts acting as complementary to guarantee a significant impact in favor of the affected regions and population.
The program’s deputy director Sawsan Etayai also expressed satisfaction with the launch of the project, indicating that the ultimate purpose of the funding is to support the current action to help the affected areas.
The program for inclusive economic and social development in the Marrakech-safi region is under USAID and is part of the Morocco-US cooperation strategy for 2022-2027.
The program seeks to consolidate the performance and capacities of territorial municipalities in the region to promote and consolidate governance, as well as the improvement of economic opportunities for women, youth, and people with disabilities.
The September 8 earthquake has left a profound impact on various provinces in central Morocco including Al Haouz, Taroudant, Chichaoua, Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Youssoufia, Tinghir, Azilal, and Agadir.
Morocco’s government and people, as well as NGOs, associations, and donors from across the world have been contributing to the relief efforts.
The country launched a special earthquake fund that collected over MAD 10 billion, seeking to help the country’s efforts to reconstruct the region.
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