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Doha – Morocco’s National Agency for the Development of Oasis and Argan Zones (ANDZOA) convened its 13th Board of Directors meeting on Wednesday, March 13, under the chairmanship of Mohammed Sadiki, Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests.
The meeting focused on presenting the results and assessment of the development strategy for oasis and argan zones, as well as validating the financial results for the 2022 fiscal year.
During the session, the board also examined and approved the medium-term action plan (2024-2026) and the 2024 budget.
Minister Sadiki commended the significant improvement in all social indicators within the intervention zones, attributing the progress to the collaborative efforts of ANDZOA, various ministries, public institutions, elected officials, and civil society.
The oasis and argan zones have witnessed remarkable advancements, as reflected in the development indicators, which have met or even surpassed the objectives set within the Agency’s intervention strategy.
These achievements include a notable reduction in the poverty rate from 13.4% in 2007 to 6.01% in 2022, public investments totaling over 125 billion dirhams between 2012 and 2022, and an increase in the gross domestic product (GDP) of the oasis and argan zones to approximately 145 billion dirhams in 2021, representing a rise of nearly 49 billion dirhams since 2012.
Moreover, the Agency’s action zone saw the creation of 123,871 jobs between 2013 and 2022, improved access to potable water from 79.74% in 2012 to 95.87% in 2022, and an increase in the rural electrification rate from 95.07% to 99.61% during the 2012-2022 period. The road accessibility rate also evolved from 72.19% in 2012 to 87.17% in 2022.
The ministry also reported a significant improvement in the gross enrollment rate between 2012 and 2021, rising from 90% to 98% for the primary cycle, 65% to 92% for the lower secondary cycle, and 45% to 63% for the upper secondary cycle.
Read also: ANDZOA: Driving Economic Growth In Morocco With 124,000 Jobs Created 2013-2022
Regarding water resources, considerable efforts have been made by the relevant stakeholders to mitigate the impact of drought and climate change through the construction of dams, groundwater recharge thresholds, and other structures.
ANDZOA and its partners have mobilized nearly 3.92 billion dirhams, allocated across partnerships (2.14 billion dirhams), rural development programs (1.19 billion dirhams), and international cooperation (596.1 million dirhams).
During the session, Latifa Yaacoubi, Director General of ANDZOA, highlighted the significant achievements recorded in the Agency’s action zone. She emphasized that ANDZOA must address major challenges over the next decade to accelerate the development process in these regions, given the national context marked by drought and climate change.
To this end, the Director of the Agency presented the broad outlines of the new development strategy for the oasis and argan zones for the 2030 horizon, which revolves around three strategic orientations.
Firstly, the strategy seeks to bolster the resilience of the regions and their ecosystems, equipping them to better withstand the impacts of climate change.
Secondly, it aims to enhance the social well-being of both rural and urban communities, ensuring that the benefits of development are felt by all. Finally, the strategy focuses on diversifying the economic landscape of the zones, fostering competitiveness and steering growth towards high value-added sectors.
