The African Development Bank Group launched a $1 million technical assistance program Jan. 28 to strengthen green finance operations at Crédit Agricole du Maroc Group, marking a significant step in Morocco’s climate transition strategy.
The initiative, delivered through the African Green Banks Initiative and the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance, will enhance the Moroccan bank’s capacity to identify, structure and finance environmentally sustainable projects while tapping into international climate funding sources.
Strategic Investment Focus
The program targets high-impact sectors critical to Morocco’s sustainable development goals. Priority areas include sustainable agriculture, rural development, water management, clean energy production, resilient infrastructure and improved connectivity across the North African nation.
“This partnership between the African Development Bank Group and the Crédit Agricole du Maroc Group confirms the ability of African institutions to play a strategic role in financing ambitious climate projects,” said Achraf Tarsim, the bank’s country manager for Morocco. “Morocco has consolidated its position as a benchmark country for green finance right across the continent.”
Expanding Beyond Traditional Sectors
Mustapha Chehhar, deputy general manager at Crédit Agricole du Maroc Group, said the technical assistance reinforces the bank’s leadership position while broadening its scope beyond conventional agricultural lending.
“Through this initiative, the Crédit Agricole du Maroc Group has consolidated its leadership in green finance and is gradually expanding its area of intervention beyond agriculture, agribusiness and the rural world,” Chehhar said. The bank now supports investments in strategic sectors including resilient infrastructure and connectivity.
Climate Compliance Framework
The program advances Morocco’s compliance with its Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement while aligning national financial flows with climate priorities. It creates pathways for accessing international climate finance and mobilizing private capital for projects supporting ecological transition.
The initiative aligns with African Development Bank President Sidi Ould Tah’s strategic priorities: mobilizing Africa’s financial resources, reforming financial systems, leveraging population growth and investing in climate-resilient infrastructure.
Since 1978, the African Development Bank Group has mobilized nearly $16.5 billion to fund more than 150 projects across Morocco. The bank’s interventions span transport, social protection, water and sanitation, energy, agriculture, governance and finance sectors.
