is situated in the north west of the continent ofAfrica. The territory extends over 710,850 km2 and the coastlinecovers 2900km on the Atlantic Ocean, as well as 512 km ofcoastline on the Mediterranean Sea. The Moroccan population isapproximately 33.8 million people. Morocco has enjoyed acomparatively steady political and economic developmenttrajectory compared to neighbouring countries.

The services sector accounts for 55 percent of GDP, whilstindustry (primarily mining, construction and manufacturing)makes up almost 30 percent — with tourism being one of thesectors which has experienced the most growth. However, thecountry still depends heavily on the agriculture and fisheriessectors. While these sectors account for only about 15-20percent of GDP, they employ 40 percent of the nationalpopulation, and close to 80 percent of the rural population.

Morocco

Sixty percent of the Moroccan population, and the majority of thecountry’s economic activities, are located in coastal zones. Forty-two percent of the Moroccan coastline will be at high risk oferosion and floods by 2030.

Another major climate risk for Morocco is the impact of climatechange on already limited and declining water resources. Waterresources are projected to decline due to an increase in droughtconditions. At the same time, water demand is expected toincrease due to population growth, expanded irrigation schemesand a projected climate-induced rise in temperature. This willlead to potentially severe water shortages by 2020, particularly inthe south of the country.

Climate change risks

Future climate trends in Morocco include rising temperatures of1–1.5°C by 2050 (rate of warming faster in the interior) and adecrease in average precipitation by 10–20 percent across thecountry, and 30 percent decrease for the Saharan region by 2100.This would lead to an increase in droughts, which would impactthe agriculture and fisheries sectors. This in turn would impactthe Moroccan economy; as evidenced by the 2016 drought. Thiswas the worst drought in 30 years, reducing crop yields by 70percent, in part contributing to a deceleration in economicgrowth of 1.7 percent. In addition, rising sea levels pose a highrisk to coastal urban areas and the tourism sector, combined withincreases in coastal erosion.

National Adaptation Plans in focus:Lessons from Morocco

The economy grew by an average of 4.3 percent in the periodbetween 2008 and 2013, which has contributed greatly towardsreducing poverty. Extreme poverty has almost been eradicatedthroughout Morocco. However, approximately 20 percent of thepopulation (6.3 million people), remain vulnerable and are undercontinual threat of falling back into poverty . The humanDevelopment index of Morocco is 0.647, ranking 123rd out of188 countries globally.

The Moroccan climate is characterized by a high spatio-temporalvariability. There are two major climatic zones in Morocco: theNorthern regions (north of the High Atlas) which are influencedby Mediterranean and Atlantic climates, with differencesbetween coastal, interior and mountain areas; and the Southernregions (south of the High Atlas), which have a semi-arid todesert climate with irregular rainfall.

Morocco has developed several overarching policies and high-level documents that promote and enable climate resilientdevelopment. These include the new Constitution, whichpromotes sustainable economic development, in line with theprotection of the environment and geographic, heritage, culturaland historical wealth. In addition climate resilient developmentis supported by the National Charter for Environment andSustainable Development (CNEDD, 2009) which isoperationalized through the National Strategy for SustainableDevelopment (NSSD) for 2017-2030.

The National Plan Against Global Warming (PNRC, 2009)identifies a portfolio of actions undertaken by the government tofight climate change. The plan includes adaptation, mitigation,and transversal actions.

In 2014, Morocco developed its National Climate Change Policy(MCCP) as a coordination tool of the various measures andinitiatives on climate change. It provides an operationalframework for the development of a medium and long-termstrategy, with a vision for 2040. The policy is dynamic,participatory and flexible, to promote low-carbon climate-resilient development. It includes an adaptation component anda mitigation component, in addition to some key strategic andcross-cutting horizontal pillars. These include; reinforcing legaland institutional frameworks, knowledge and territorialapproaches; preventing and reducing risks; promoting research,innovation and technological transfer; and financing climatechange.

The adaptation component identifies eight strategic sectors (seetable overleaf), and it highlights the development of a NAP thatshould identify priority activities to address adaptationrequirements.

Implementation of adaptation actions

Preparing for adaptation planningMorocco has carried out various studies to assess climate changeimpacts and vulnerabilities at the national level. This includesstate-of-the-art GIS-based catastrophe risk modelling, and theMorocco Natural Hazards Probabilistic Risk Assessment(MnhPRA) — which allows for an analysis for risks of earthquake,flood, tsunami, drought and landslide across Morocco. Theregions of Sous Massa and Oasis have benefited from severalstudies and pilot adaptation initiatives. However, many gapsremain, particularly regarding the acquisition, management andconsolidation of climate risk data.

Morocco has submitted three national communications to theUNFCCC (2001, 2010 and 2016). The Third NationalCommunication (2016) includes a summary of the most recentclimate projections and studies.

A system to monitor and assess vulnerability and adaptation toclimate change has been piloted, to provide the country’sregions with an institutional mechanism to monitor climatesensitivities and the results of adaptation actions. Thismonitoring system also takes gender issues into account. Thepilot project was first tested in southern Moroccan regions, withviews to be expended to other regions.

In 2015, Morocco submitted its Intended Nationally DeterminedContribution (INDC) which is based on the NSSD, and outlines avision of Morocco for 2030. Regarding adaptation, Moroccointends to implement a sectoral approach, adapted to its variednatural conditions. The INDC sets several quantified sectorialgoals for 2020 and 2030, which focus primarily on the watersector. In 2016, Morocco submitted its first NationallyDetermined Contribution (NDC) which sets new objectives for2020 and 2030 for agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, inaddition to refining the objectives set by the INDC for water.

For financing adaptation, Morocco has devoted 64 percent of allclimate-related spending over the period 2005-2010 toadaptation. This represents nine percent of overall investmentexpenditure.

Groundwork for supporting the process to formulate andimplement the NAP

Policy, planning and budgeting

Morocco is involved in various adaptation actions and projects,with subnational, national and regional scopes (MENA orAfrican). Most adaptation interventions in Morocco addressurgent needs in the agriculture and water sectors. Morocco hasalso undertaken actions to integrate disaster risk management(DRM), particularly focussing on floods and erosion.

Morocco expects to dedicate at least 15 percent of its overallinvestment budgets to adaptation to climate change in thefuture. In the NDC, Morocco estimates that the cost ofimplementation of adaptation projects between 2020 and 2030for the water, forestry and agriculture sectors — the sectorsmost vulnerable to climate change — will total more than USD35 billion.

Strategic Sectoral Pillars for Adaptation (MCCP, 2014)

1. Water2. Agriculture

3. Fishing4. Forestry and fight against desertification5. Biodiversity6. Health7. Tourism8. Housing, town planning and territories

Institutional arrangements

The existing institutional framework in Morocco was builtgradually to meet the requirements of the UNFCCC. Morocco’sNational Committee for Climate Change was established in 2007and oversees all climate-related activities. The committee ischaired by the Department for Sustainable Development, whichis also the national focal point for the United NationsFramework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

An Inter-ministerial Monitoring Committee (CIS) composed ofnational experts (from public agencies, universities, consultantfirms etc.) was set up to support the development of the ThirdNational Communication.

The Secretary of State for Sustainable Development set up aNational Adaptation Committee, inviting all CIS institutions todesignate at least two focal points on adaptation.

The Moroccan Competence Centre for Climate Change (4CMaroc) provides a capacity-building and information-sharingplatform on climate change. This is available to variousstakeholders and has a regional and African outreach.

Morocco is currently implementing changes to help improve theinstitutional framework. A Central Directorate is being createdwithin the Ministry of Environment, focussing on climatechange, biodiversity and green economy.

What is the process to formulate and implement NAPs?The Conference of Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) established the NationalAdaptation Plan (NAP) process in 2010, to enhance country-led planning and preparedness for climate change adaptation (CCA) in themedium and long-term. The objectives of the NAP are to reduce vulnerability to the impacts of climate change and to integrate adaptationinto all levels of development planning. The NAP process is multi-sectoral, involving Ministries of Environment as well as Planning and Finance,in addition to other key Ministries. By bringing greater institutional integration and coordination to adaptation planning, NAPs can enhanceongoing national development planning processes, safeguard development gains, and build resilience.

NAP activities

Morocco commenced the adaptation planning process in 2015,following the adoption of the MCCP. A first study was carriedout by the Ministry of Environment and GIZ, in 2015-2016, toanalyse how adaptation has been taken into account in sectoralplanning. The study concerned water, agriculture, forestry,tourism, road infrastructure and human health — the six pilotsectors that were identified priorities in the Third NationalCommunication.

Subsequently, the Ministry of Environment organised a nationalworkshop to apply the Stocktaking for National AdaptationPlanning Tool (SNAP), in October 2016, with the support of GIZ.The workshop identified and assessed needs and capacities foradaptation planning, and developed a first draft of the Roadmapfor the development of a NAP in Morocco.

Regional consultations on the roadmap were also undertaken inworkshops organised in two regions of Morocco in March 2017.

In April 2017, another workshop was organised, focussing on thecapacity building priorities identified by the roadmap. Theworkshop was aimed at developing and strengthening thetechnical skills of the adaptation focal points of variousMoroccan ministries and local institutions. The workshop wasorganised with support from GIZ, the NAP-GSP and UNITAR.During the workshop, the draft roadmap was revised anddeveloped, to advance the process to formulate and implementthe NAP in Morocco.

The process to formulate and implement the Moroccan NAP

Successes

As part of the process to formulate and implement the NAP inMorocco, many preliminary consultation workshops have takenplace, both at national and local levels. This has helped togenerate a common vision about the opportunities andchallenges, and the strategies to explore, towards a successfulNAP. The outcomes of these consultations have been compiledin an ambitious NAP roadmap.

Challenges

The existing institutional framework is not conducive to theeffective implementation of the MCCP. It does not effectivelycoordinate and arbitrate public policies, and requires furtherstrengthening . Governance structures, which constitute thefoundation for a coherent and participatory implementation,require further strengthening. In addition, it is important tobroaden the ownership at the provincial and local levels, topromote the effective implementation of the Territorial Plans tofight against Climate Change (PTRC), in accordance with theNational Strategy for Sustainable Development 2017-2030.Several studies on adaptation in Morocco highlight thechallenges in acquiring, managing and consolidating datarelating to climate risks and vulnerabilities. Therefore it isnecessary to strengthen systems for predicting, observing andmonitoring climate change impacts, and to improve risk-informed decision-making.

8strategic

adaptation priorities in

MCCP

9%of government

budget on adaptation

USD35bncost of adaptation

projects 2020-2030

3National

Communications

80%of rural population

employed in agriculture

Opportunities

Collaboration with the private sector is a key opportunity;further discussions will take place to define its role anddiscuss contributions to planning and financing adaptationprojects.

Discussions with climate-active NGOs and civil societyorganisations are also necessary, to further strengthentheir involvement the process to formulate and implementthe NAP.

A NAP Assembly with all development donors andstakeholders active in Morocco is scheduled, following aseries of bilateral meetings to discuss their potentialsupport to the NAP process.

Two regional brainstorming workshops are planned, todiscuss approaches and tools for integrating adaptationinto territorial planning.

A national workshop will take place, to discuss the resultsand propose options for vertical integration of adaptationinto development planning.

A NAP readiness proposal for the GCF is being finalised, forearly 2018.

Key documents

Morocco’s Climate Change Policy - MCCP, 2014NDC, 2016Third National Communication, 2016

The joint UNDP-UN Environment National Adaptation Plan Global Support Programme (NAP-GSP) was launched in June 2013, financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) LeastDeveloped Countries Fund (LDCF), and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF). The NAP-GSP,together with partners, are assisting developing countries to identify technical, institutional andfinancial needs to integrate climate change adaptation into medium and long-term nationalplanning and financing. The NAP-GSP provides technical expertise and guidance on country NAPprocesses, and provides opportunities for knowledge exchange on NAPs.

About the NAP-GSPEmail:Rohini.Kohli@undp.orgMozaharul.Alam@unep.orgEsther.Lake@un.orgWebsite:http://globalsupportprogramme.org/nap-gsp

November 2017