Doha – Three rural Moroccan communities received development aid this week as part of Japan’s ongoing KUSANONE program.
On June 11 and 12, Japanese Ambassador to Morocco, Masahiro Nakata, attended official handover ceremonies in Errachidia and Tinghir provinces, delivering grants totaling MAD 1,570,000 ($157,000).
The KUSANONE program, which translates to “grassroots,” targeted three specific community needs in Morocco’s southeastern regions with grants for local micro-projects contributing to human security.
In Errachidia province, the ALJID Agricultural Cooperative received funding for the construction of a 950-meter concrete irrigation canal in Ksar Taznakte. This project will benefit approximately 2,300 residents from 460 families in the M’daghra commune.
The new irrigation system aims to strengthen the local ecosystem’s resilience against climate change impacts while increasing water flow and reducing irrigation time. Importantly, it will improve local food security by expanding irrigated agricultural land.
Moving to Tinghir province, the Bougafer Association for Agriculture, Environment and Sustainable Development secured support for an irrigation system upgrade in Taghia Nilmchane village within Taghzout Nait Atta commune.
The project will install a solar pumping system and an economical storage basin, benefiting 460 farming families or approximately 3,800 residents. This initiative focuses on optimizing water usage to improve agricultural production profitability and expand irrigable land.
The third project addresses drinking water access in Ouaklim village, also in Tinghir province. The Azag Drinking Water Association will implement improvements that will benefit around 540 families, or 5,000 residents.
This initiative will ensure water availability even during dry periods, eliminate the need for women and children to transport water over long distances, and help reduce rural exodus by stabilizing the local population.
These three projects represent the latest in Japan’s long-standing KUSANONE program, which was established in 1989. The program primarily supports NGOs and local communities.
To date, Japan has funded 374 community development projects across Morocco, with cumulative donations exceeding MAD 180 million ($18 million).
The handover ceremonies were attended by local authorities and representatives from the beneficiary organizations. According to the Tokyo Embassy, this speaks to the continued cooperation between Morocco and Japan in addressing fundamental human security needs.
