By: TPA News Desk | editor@thepointafricanews.com

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a €100 million (approximately $116.4 million) loan to support sustainable agricultural development in Morocco, with a strong focus on empowering women and youth entrepreneurs.

The initiative, announced Monday, is designed to strengthen food security and climate resilience, while promoting inclusive economic growth in rural communities. It will support Morocco’s national agricultural strategy, “Green Generation 2020–2030,” which aims to modernize the country’s farming sector and enhance opportunities for smallholder farmers.

According to the AfDB, the financing will provide targeted support to women and young entrepreneurs through improved access to capital, training programs, value chain integration, and climate-smart practices. The program also seeks to promote digital innovation in agriculture to help build more resilient and sustainable food systems.

Achraf Tarsim, the Bank’s Country Manager for Morocco, said the project aligns with the Bank’s goal of supporting inclusive and sustainable agricultural transformation. “We are particularly focused on women and youth who have the ambition to succeed in agriculture. They are a priority in our investment strategy,” he noted.

This latest investment adds to a long-standing partnership between Morocco and the African Development Bank. Over the last five decades, the AfDB has financed more than 150 projects in Morocco, with a total value exceeding €15 billion, spanning sectors such as transport, water, energy, governance, and agriculture.

The project is expected to have a far-reaching impact by boosting rural incomes, creating jobs, and improving the overall competitiveness of Morocco’s agricultural sector. It also reinforces AfDB’s commitment to combating food insecurity and climate vulnerability across Africa.