Clean Drinking Water for 1250 Villagers in Morocco

This project seeks to build water access points and basins and install equipment in the rural commune of Jrifia, and to revive the ancient wells which distinguish the local region. The proposed budget would enable the construction of six wells for the benefit of 7,800 households in Albadia nomadic communities and 3,500 fishermen in two rural fishing villages in the Province of Boujdour. 

According to the local population, one-third of the local people’s income can be spent on water. As their main economic activity is animal husbandry and fishing, the communities do not have the funds to construct the necessary infrastructure. The local people see this water project as their first priority, identified during participatory planning processes. Access to drinking water reduces rates of infant mortality and illness and increases school attendance of children, particularly girls, as well as people’s energy levels. Furthermore, this project aims to build the capacity of the local people through the enhancement of skills and knowledge in utilizing, managing, and conserving water sources and protecting the environment. This project will implement health and hygiene awareness workshops to enhance the health status of the communities living in marginalized isolated fishing and nomadic rural villages. 

This project will also build a canal to enable animals to drink and thus benefit the larger community. The targeted beneficiaries are approximately 600 cattle breeders in the province in Boujdour and neighboring provinces who come to the area in search of pastures. This project will also impact 18,000 camels and 110,000 goats and sheep as well as tourists and nomadic families.   

This project also includes the construction of a water tower in the Amziouat community members who face a lack of water. Providing access to clean drinking water by way of a water tower would go a long way in supporting an influx of tourism to the area as well as improving current community members’ quality of life. Also, inadequate sanitary facilities in Amziouat lead to a considerable amount of pollution of the beaches as well as the ocean itself. The economic impact is considerable as there is a decline in tourism and a decrease in traditional fishing practices as a result. HAF plans to address these challenges through a project that aims to protect the environment and prevent pollution by building sanitary facilities for women and men. It will benefit sailors, schools (students and teachers), visitors, tourists, and seaweed collectors.