Warning: Undefined array key "idscope" in /home/wwc/www/Board_Mandate_2019-2021/index.php on line 1838

Warning: Undefined array key "idlanguage" in /home/wwc/www/Board_Mandate_2019-2021/index.php on line 1839
Organization : Secrétariat d'état auprès du ministre de l'équipement, du transport, de la logistique et de l'eau chargé de l"eau
Acronym: : WD
Nationality of the organisation of establishment : Morocco Year of establishment : 1961
college to which your organisation belongs to :
College 2:Government and government promoted organisations
Scope of your organisation : National
 Are you organiation's activities focused primarily on water and sanitation ? : Yes No
Please indicate your organisation's field(s) of expertise and activities :
  • Water resources management
  • Basic Human needs or health
  • Development or infrastructure
  • Climate or natural hazards
  • Environment or ecosystems
  • Water supply or sanitation
  • Agriculture or food production
  • Human rights or social issues
  • Education or capacity building
  • Human settlements or habitats
  • Regulation and governance
  • Economics or finance
  • Research or development
  • Energy or industry
  • Media awareness
  • International cooperation or humanitarian relief
You may specify your activities by providing a list of more precise keywords:
Description of your Organisation's activities : The Water Department (WD) in Morocco is the governmental institution in charge of developing and implementing water sector policy especially integrated water resources management. It is responsible for : - Planning , monitoring and management of water resources; - Mobilization of surface water resources through dams and hydraulic infrastructures construction and water transfer ; - Protection of groundwater resources ; - Water quality preservation; - Protection of people and property through weather forecasting and monitoring of weather risk; - Research & Development in the fields of Climate and Water Due to its geographic location, Morocco is characterized by a strongly contrasted climate, with its rainfall being highly irregular in space and time. This situation is likely to worsen with climate change. In the past decades, Morocco suffered from an increase in extreme phenomena as well as a significant reduction in rainfall, and, as a result, in water supply. Given this context, the WD has established since 2009 a national strategy for the development of the water sector in Morocco. Based on the principles of Integrated Water Resources Management, the strategy established by the WD aims to secure water resources regarding the country’s development in all sectors (agriculture, tourism, industry ...), but also to ensure integrated and sustainable management of water resources in a global context of climate change. This national strategy is based on following axis: - Water demand management and optimizing of water valorization through technical, legal and financial instruments; - Supply management and development: The Water Department must continue its great efforts in water resource mobilization through additional large dams construction and realization of the north-south water transfer; Generalization of access to drinking water in rural area; Mobilization of non conventional water resources through desalinization of sea water and reuse of treated wastewater. - Preservation and protection of water resources, natural environment and sensitive areas by : Protecting the quality of water resources and fight against pollution ; Preserving the ground water resources ; Safeguarding wetlands, natural lakes, oases and coastal areas. - Reduction of the vulnerability to natural risks related to water and adaptation to climate change through : Improving the protection of persons and property against flooding Fight against the effects of drought - Further regulatory and institutional reforms : the actual law must take in consideration new concepts such as desalination of sea water, water saving or discharge of sewage into the sea….

Governor representative :
First Name : Abdeslam Last Name : ZIYAD
Title : Mr. Position : DIRECTOR OF WATER RESEARCH AND PLANNING
Nationality : Morocco Gender : Male Female
Email : ab_ziyad@yahoo.fr
background : As a water resources engineer, Mr Ziyad has developped his experience in the fields of : - Integrated Water Resources Management - Water law and regulation; - Decentralized water management ; - Water planning - Water resilience to climate change. He serves as an expert in many technical projects with international and regional organizations such as : MEDROPLAN “Mediterranean Drought Preparedness and Mitigation” with the European Union, "Climate change impact in the water resources in Morocco" with the World Bank, "Sustainable water resources management" with EU... Mr Ziyad has contributed to the elaboration of the National water strategy, the National Water Plan and the regional water plans. He also represented the Ministry at the negotiations in the Advanced Status “Morocco- European Union” and at the negotiation in the UfM for adopting the "Water Mediterranean strategy". In addition, Mr Ziyad has actively contribute to the organization of the participation of the ministry in: - World Water Forums; - UNFCCC Conference of the Parties ; - Mediterranean Water Forums; - 5+5 initiative meetings ; - Arab Water Forums; - Arab Water council meetings; - Arab Ministerial Council meeting - African water forum; Mr Ziyad is also a technical focal point and spokesman of the ministry with many international and financial agencies.

Alternate representative :
First Name : SAFAA Last Name : BAHIJE
Title : Mrs. Postion : HEAD OF COOPERATION AND COMMUNICATION DIVISION
Nationality : Morocco Gender :
Email : safaa_bahije@hotmail.com
background : Mrs Bahije hold a Master Degree in Information Science and a Certificate in Water Diplomacy. As head of cooperation and communication division in the Water Department, Mrs Bahije ensure to develop technical and financial cooperation with international donors and cooperation agencies based in Morocco. She is also in charge of prospecting and negotiating cooperation projects and financing opportunities in the field of water. Mrs Bahije has also actively prepared the participation of the ministry in International Congresses and Forums such as World Water Forums, regional ministerial meetings and UNFCCC conferences. She is also involved in many regional cooperation projects and programs.

Organisation statement:
Please describe the involvement of your organisation within the World Water Council and state how long it has been involved in World Water Council activities : The WD is aware that water resources are an important issue worldwide; therefore it actively participates to the efforts provided by the international community in general and by the world water council in particular. In fact, the WD is involved within the WWC in many dimensions: - At the global dimension, the WD has been a founding member of the World Water Council (WWC) and has co-organized, with the WWC, the 1st World Water Forum (WWF) held in Marrakech in 1997. Besides, and in order to promote the principles of the WWC on cooperation and solidarity in management and development of water resources, the WD has established, with the WWC, since 2000 the King Hassan II Great World Water Prize; - At the political dimension, the WD has always ensured the commitment and the participation of the high-level political leaders in the main WWC event : the “World Water Forum”. By federating the Moroccan legislative and governmental political actors, the WD has always ensured the active participation of Morocco in the political dialogue worn at the high-level meetings and round tables of the WWF. In addition, the WD has always included the commitments adopted in the Ministerial Declaration of the Forum in its national political agenda; - At the regional dimension, the WD gives a priority to the water issues occurring at the Mediterranean, Arab and African regions. -At the economic dimension, and in order to promote a better water governance, the WD has developed a strategic partnership with many economic and financial actors members of the WWC, among which the OCDE, UfM, GWPMed and EIB. The WD is also supporting the WWC to raise water issues within the climate change discussions. In this regards, the WD organized since 2016 with the WWC the International Conference on Water and Climate and the water action day during the COPs.
For what reasons do you wish your organisation to have a seat on the Board of Governors ? The WD adheres fully to the principles supported by the WWC including the access for all to water, the hydro-diplomacy and the promotion of awareness to sustainably protect, develop and manage water. Thanks to its dynamic influence at the Arab, African and Mediterranean regions, the WD, as a member of Board of Governors, will strongly defend the principles of WWC and will serve as an advocate and enabler of the WWC principles. Besides, the WD will provide all his support not only to enhance the involvement of the high-level politics to the WWC orientations at both regional and global levels but also to make sure that the guidance submitted by the WWC will be considered by the political agendas. In addition, and at the national level, the WD, as a member of Governor, will ensure to transcribe the WWC guidance in the water public policy. Finally, and as member of the Board of Governors, the WD will ensure to provide all assistance and expertise to the WWC organization and activities.