ONEE Showcases South-South and Triangular Cooperation Strategy in Marrakech
The National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) highlighted its South-South and triangular cooperation strategy on Monday in Marrakech as part of the 19th World Water Congress.
Speaking during a special session on the theme “Leveraging innovative financing to strengthen South-South and triangular cooperation in the water sector,” ONEE Director General Tarik Hamane stated that the Office has developed a “solid” cooperation approach under the vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.
He explained that this strategy is built on sharing expertise, technical assistance and capacity building for African operators in drinking water, electricity and wastewater management. “Elle s’inscrit pleinement dans l’Initiative Royale visant à faciliter l’accès des pays du Sahel à l’océan Atlantique qui vise à favoriser l’intégration régionale et le développement durable dans cette zone stratégique pour l’avenir du continent,” he added.
Hamane noted that ONEE is currently involved in several ambitious cooperation projects supported by innovative financing instruments, capitalizing on successful partnerships in drinking water and sanitation with countries such as Guinea, Burkina Faso, Mali, Cameroon and Mauritania.
He emphasized that the International Water and Sanitation Institute (IEA) of ONEE serves as the main driver of these programs, describing it as “un centre d’excellence reconnu dans le domaine du renforcement des capacités et de la recherche appliquée.”
According to Hamane, ONEE aims to build on decades of accumulated expertise with national and international funding partners, both bilateral and multilateral, by mobilizing financing that combines development aid and climate adaptation tools to expand its South-South and triangular cooperation work.
He stressed that strengthening this cooperation model represents a key lever to accelerate progress toward universal access to drinking water and wastewater services and to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.
For her part, Catherine Bonnaud, Director of the French Development Agency (AFD) in Rabat, noted that water and sanitation are central to the agency’s work in Africa. She stressed the importance of mobilizing innovative financing and highlighted Morocco’s role as “une source d’inspiration” with a clear political will to reinforce South-South cooperation, adding that AFD is committed to supporting this direction.
The session, held jointly by ONEE and the Islamic Development Bank, was marked by the signing of two agreements.
A cooperation memorandum was signed between ONEE and the French Development Agency as part of the launch of the “qualité de l’eau” program for African water operators. The initiative aims to strengthen the technical and managerial capacities of operators across the continent.
A second framework cooperation agreement was signed between ONEE and Burkina Faso’s National Water and Sanitation Office (ONEA), expanding collaboration launched in 2007 through project support, executive training and improved water quality monitoring.
Placed under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the 19th World Water Congress runs until December 5 and is co-organized by the Ministry of Equipment and Water and the International Water Resources Association.
Held under the theme “Water in a changing world: Innovation and adaptation,” the event brings together experts, researchers, decision-makers, civil society and the private sector to share knowledge, build partnerships and shape practical solutions to global water security and governance challenges.
Editorial team/le7tv
