🇲🇦MoroccoNorth Africa
ONEE launches €50 million program with KfW support to enhance drinking water supply resilience
via Le Matin2 min read
The National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water ONEE is accelerating its strategy to adapt to water stress through a climate-resilient drinking water supply program. This major initiative, with a total investment of 50 million euros, is supported by the German development bank KfW and is set to run until June 2030. Its primary goal is to secure drinking water supply amidst recurrent droughts and increasing pressure on resources. The program involves a gradual reorientation of water production, focusing on expanding and diversifying resources, particularly surface water, to reduce reliance on over-exploited groundwater. The aim is to meet current demand, including peak consumption, and anticipate future needs driven by demographic and economic growth, while ensuring service continuity and sanitary quality. The program has two main pillars: the first focuses on new drinking water production projects and improving existing facilities through modernization and optimization; the second is a flexible credit line for smaller, high-impact operational projects. Technical assistance, including a consulting engineering firm, will coordinate, monitor, and supervise projects, covering technical, financial, and environmental aspects, and ensuring compliance with donor standards and integration of environmental and social requirements. Land acquisition is a key focus, with a dedicated system to manage land purchases and prevent delays. This program represents a deeper evolution of Mor
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
The Marrakech-Safi region solidified its position as a key entrepreneurial hub in Morocco in 2024, with 40,606 active corporate entities by year-end, representing 10.7% of the national active business landscape. The region experienced a 3.1% increase in businesses year-on-year. New business creation accelerated, with 8,485 new corporate entities registered, a 14.4% rise from 2023. Including both corporate and individual businesses, 10,744 new enterprises were established. Marrakech city alone accounted for 74% of these new businesses, underscoring its economic dominance, followed by Safi and Al Haouz provinces with 6% and 5.3% respectively. The regional business sector is largely composed of micro-enterprises, with nearly 90% being very small structures and 96% having a turnover under 10 million dirhams. Economic indicators also showed robust activity, with a cumulative turnover of 106.9 billion dirhams in 2024, a 10.3% increase, and value added rising by 20.4% to 23.8 billion dirhams. Exports generated 9.3 billion dirhams. Trade remains the primary economic driver, representing over 30% of active businesses and contributing most to turnover, exports, and value added. Construction and accommodation-catering sectors also feature prominently. Marrakech prefecture alone hosts 73.3% of the region's active businesses, generates 88.2% of regional turnover, and accounts for 68.6% of declared jobs. While Essaouira saw a 7% increase in active businesses, Al Haouz experienced a 4.9% de
Attacks targeting contactless payments via Near Field Communication NFC technology are rapidly increasing worldwide. Kaspersky's cybersecurity solutions blocked over 35,600 attacks on Android smartphones in the first four months of 2026, a 188% rise from just over 12,300 in the same period in 2025. These attacks use various malware families, including SuperCard X, PhantomCard, NGate, and several variants of NFCGate, a legitimate tool repurposed for fraud. While some markets were initially hit hard, the threat now affects many regions, including Europe, Latin America, and countries with widespread contactless payments. Experts identify two main methods. "Direct NFC" involves tricking victims, via fraudulent messages or calls, into installing an app disguised as a banking service. Users are then prompted to place their bank card near their smartphone and enter their PIN, allowing cybercriminals to steal payment information. The more recent and sophisticated "reverse NFC" method involves victims setting a malicious app as their default contactless payment method. This manipulation allows fraudsters to divert transactions and convince targets to make deposits into a supposed "secure account," with funds actually going directly to the cybercriminals. Sergey Golovanov, a Kaspersky cybersecurity expert, notes that reverse NFC attacks are becoming more frequent and pose a greater risk because victims perform the financial operations themselves, making fraudulent transactions harder t
Must ReadThe Grand Stadium of Agadir is undergoing a 15-month rehabilitation and modernization as part of Morocco's national program to prepare for the 2030 World Cup, which the country will co-host with Spain and Portugal. This extensive project, costing over one billion dirhams, aims to adapt the stadium to stringent international standards for hosting sports competitions. Initial work has focused on renovating the metallic structure and roofing, considered critical elements. The project is managed by the National Company for the Realization and Management of Sports Equipment SONARGES and the National Agency for Public Equipment ANEP. It builds on previous upgrades to sports facilities, road access, parking areas, public lighting, and the urban environment around the stadium. The current phase involves a complete restructuring of technical installations, including dismantling existing equipment, followed by reinforcement and reconstruction to meet FIFA requirements for major international events. Advanced digital tools are being utilized, such as Building Information Modeling BIM for integrated digital modeling and coordination, and "4D" technology for real-time progress tracking and anticipation of technical constraints. Quality assurance is maintained through adherence to ISO 9001 version 2015 standards, with internal and external control systems. Environmental considerations are central, with the project adopting High Environmental Quality HQE principles for sustainable infrastru
Morocco's U17 national team finished fourth at the U17 Africa Cup of Nations after losing to Senegal in the semi-finals and then to Egypt 2-0 in the third-place play-off. The team's performance against Egypt highlighted significant shortcomings, including a lack of inspiration, inability to challenge the opposing defense, and a playing level below expectations. Observers noted a technical and mental breakdown, marked by a lack of commitment and collective fight. Despite substantial investments in youth development, the team's uninspired showing at the Mohammed VI Football Complex has raised serious concerns. The defeat is seen not as an isolated incident but as a symptom of a growing gap between national football ambitions and on-field reality, characterized by zero midfield creativity, recurring defensive errors, and sterile offensive play. This failure also brings into question the strategic choices made by the National Technical Directorate. The departure of Nabil Baha, who led the team to victory in the 2025 edition, is difficult for many national football observers to understand. Baha had instilled a winning culture, mastered local specificities, and maintained essential psychological proximity with the adolescent players. The shift to a foreign coach, Tiago Lima Pereira, who is less familiar with traditional scouting circuits, is believed to have disrupted a successful transmission chain that had been effective since the era of Saïd Chiba. Prioritizing international cre