AFDB INVESTS €100 MILLION TO CULTIVATE WOMEN AND YOUTH AGRIPRENEURS IN MOROCCO

AfDB injects €100 million to power rural innovation in Morocco, targeting women and youth as drivers of inclusive, climate-resilient agriculture.

Afdb Morrocco Agricultural innovators Entrepreneur Finanance Women Youth Support Transformation.
The African Development Bank (AfDB)
The African Development Bank (AfDB)



The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a transformative €100 million financing package aimed at turning Morocco’s rural women and youth into the next generation of agricultural innovators and entrepreneurs.

The funding supports a new initiative the Program for Supporting Inclusive Solidarity Agriculture for Women and Youth (PAASIFEJ) which is designed to unleash the entrepreneurial potential of underserved rural populations, especially women and young people, while fortifying Morocco’s food security systems and climate resilience.

Rather than offering short-term relief, PAASIFEJ takes a long-term development approach by investing in customized financial instruments, capacity building, and modern agricultural infrastructure. The program aims to provide women and youth with the resources and support to launch viable ventures across the agriculture, agri-processing, para-agriculture, and digital value chains.

“This program is not only about agriculture it’s about unlocking dreams and building inclusive economies from the ground up,” said Achraf Tarsim, AfDB’s Country Manager for Morocco. “Through this initiative, we will walk with them step by step to shape an agriculture that is modern, inclusive, and resilient.”

PAASIFEJ also aligns with Morocco’s “Generation Green 2020–2030” strategy, which seeks to reimagine agriculture as a dynamic engine of job creation and sustainable development. The program is further integrated with the National Solidarity Agriculture Program and the National Youth Entrepreneurship Program, ensuring that the new investment feeds into broader national priorities.

In addition to building technical and financial support systems, the initiative will establish agricultural service hubs and production centers that empower rural women to take on leadership roles within local value chains increasing their visibility, incomes, and long-term economic independence.

With this latest commitment, the AfDB reinforces its long-standing development partnership with Morocco. Over the past 50 years, the Bank has mobilized nearly €15 billion to fund over 150 major projects across strategic sectors such as energy, infrastructure, water, and agriculture.

By focusing on women and youth as the nucleus of Morocco’s agricultural transformation, PAASIFEJ sets the stage for a more inclusive, sustainable, and innovative rural economy led by those who have historically been left behind.

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