FP022

Development of arganiculture orchards in degraded environment (DARED)

Development of arganiculture orchards in degraded environment (DARED)

  • Status Under implementation
  • Date approved 14 Oct 2016 at B.14
  • Est. completion 31 Dec 2025
  • ESS Category Category B

Supporting rural communities in the Argan Biosphere Reserve through the planting of argan orchards and the promotion of sustainable arganiculture to foster sustainable development, build resilience and support climate mitigation.

The argan forest of Morocco, covering 2.5 million hectares, is recognised by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve with a rich biodiversity. There has been a “market boom” in argan oil, and its rising demand has improved household income for local communities but generated serious pressure on the natural forest, threatening its sustainability. The forest is also threatened by the impact of climate change upon its regeneration.

Morocco committed within its INDC to reduce its Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emission by 32% by 2030 through mitigation activities. Morocco intends to plant 43,000 hectares of argan tree orchards and promote arganiculture as a priority activity to reduce GHG emissions. This project will strengthen the resilience of rural communities and the arganeraie biosphere reserve through planting 10,000 ha of argan tree orchards with soil conservation and rain water harvesting capabilities. Supporting argan plantations and arganiculture will also contribute to relieve the anthropic pressure on the natural forest, and improve livelihoods of the communities by moving from a model of fruit collection from natural forests towards sustainable forest co-management.

The project has an estimated lifespan of 5 years.

Total project value

 

Tonnes of emissions avoided

 

Beneficiaries

 

Direct
26,000
Theme

Cross-cutting

Result areas

Project timeline

Pipeline

29 Mar 2016 - 200 days

Concept note received

29 Mar 2016

Funding proposal received

16 Jun 2016

Cleared by GCF Secretariat

21 Jul 2016

Approved

14 Oct 2016 - 244 days

Approved by GCF Board

14 Oct 2016

Cleared by iTAP

14 Oct 2016

Legal opinion on AE's Internal Approval

06 Jan 2017

FAA executed

17 Mar 2017

Under implementation

14 Jun 2017 - 2,471 days so far

FAA effective

14 Jun 2017

Disbursement - USD 10,161,600

03 Nov 2017

Annual Performance Report

31 Jan 2019

Disbursement - USD 10,420,800

28 Aug 2020

Completed

31 Dec 2025 - 652 days to go

One region

  • Africa

One country

One priority group

  • African States
USD  
  • Financing
    • Private sector
    • Public sector
  • Size
    • Micro
    • Small
    • Medium
    • Large

GCF financing52% disbursed

InstrumentAmount
GrantUSD 39,292,600
Total GCF Financing
USD 39,292,600

Co-financing

Co-financerInstrumentAmount
Co-FinancingGrantUSD 4,095,400
Co-FinancingGrantUSD 5,000,000
Co-FinancingGrantUSD 800,000
Total Co-Financing
USD 9,895,400

GCF Contacts

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Project complaints and grievances

GCF Independent Redress Mechanism (IRM)
Phone +82 32 458 6186 (KST)
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Integrity issues

GCF Independent Integrity Unity (IIU)
Phone +82 32 458 6714 (KST)
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Accredited Entity

Agency for Agricultural Development of Morocco
Mr. El Mahdi ARRIFI
Primary

General Director
Ms. Meryem Andaloussi
Secondary

Project Manager
Immeuble 2 et 3, Espace les patios, Angle Avenue Annakhil et Avenue Mehdi Ben Barka, Hay Ryad, Rabat, Morocco
Phone +212 6 61 56 57 81
Phone +212 5 37 57 38 13
m.andaloussi@ada.gov.ma
meryem.andaloussi@gmail.com
More contacts

National Designated Authority

Morocco
Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development- Department of Sustainable Development
Mr. Bouzekri Razi Primary
Director of Climate Change, Biodiversity, and Green Economy

News + Stories

Climate-friendly farming preserves argan forests

10 May 2022 / Argan oil, considered the 'liquid gold' of Morocco and globally renowned as a cosmetic product, is at risk due to climate change. The Green Climate Fund (GCF) supports the Government of Morocco in its endeavour to cultivate argan orchards (arganiculture) to help preserve the argan forest which is the last barrier against climate-induced desertification. The argan orchards project, in partnership with ADA and implemented by ANDZOA, promotes climate mitigation actions and supports rural women, particularly Berber communities, who are dependent on argan for a living to build climate resilience and have a sustainable source of income.

Protecting the argan forests of Morocco

05 Nov 2021 / Making premium health and beauty products out of argan oil is good business for Zorah Biocosmétiques. The Montreal-based company uses this premium ingredient, which comes from Morocco’s arid southwestern region, in many of its hair, skin and health products.

Cultivating argan orchards to fight climate change in Morocco

18 Mar 2020 / Climate change and overharvesting of argan fruits are threatening argan forests in Morocco. The Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Government of Morocco are working together to empower local communities to protect the forests through the argan orchards programme.

GCF in Morocco: Preserving argan forests through climate-smart farming

18 Mar 2020 / Climate change and overharvesting of argan fruits are threatening argan forests in Morocco. Watch how the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Government of Morocco are working together to empower local communities to protect the forests through the argan orchards programme.

Forests: A cause of climate concern, and hope

15 Aug 2018 / You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.

Forests: A cause of climate concern, and hope

14 Aug 2018 / You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.