Regional forum on climate change adaptation in the Béni Mellal–Khénifra region

1. Presentation of AIDECA

Founded on 22 December 1996 in Afourer, Morocco, AIDECA is a leading non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting sustainable development across the Béni Mellal Khénifra region. Rooted in universal human rights values and enriched by the specifics of Moroccan culture, AIDECA is deeply committed to promoting the socio-economic inclusion of young people and women, improving education, strengthening local governance, and protecting the environment. Thanks to its extensive network and decades of local engagement, the organisation works closely with communities to implement sustainable solutions tailored to the challenges and contexts of the Béni Mellal-Khénifra (BMK) region. AIDECA’s efforts, together with its stakeholders, aim to build a more inclusive and sustainable future, ensuring that every individual benefits from equal opportunities and that their rights are protected.

2. Context and rationale

Morocco is highly exposed to climate change impacts, especially in semi-arid and mountain areas: growing pressure on water resources, recurring droughts, ecosystem degradation, soil erosion, and heightened vulnerability of rural populations. The Béni Mellal-Khénifra region is particularly affected given how much its economy depends on agriculture, livestock, and natural resources.

Morocco has adopted national strategies on climate, sustainable development, and the green transition. Effective territorial implementation remains a major challenge. Local authorities, civil society, local economic actors, and communities still need stronger access to information, climate planning, financing, and inclusive governance.

Within this framework, the ⴰⵙⵎⵓⵙⵙⵓ - ⵜⴰⴷⵔⴰⵡⵜ (ASTA) project is being implemented over two years by AIDECA under the AMUSSU project: strengthening the capacity of civil society to act for governance, the environment, and climate. This project is part of the Strategic Support Programme for Civil Society (PASSC), implemented under the partnership between Morocco and the European Union for 2023–2027. The AMUSSU project is overseen by the organisation Migration & Development (M&D), in partnership with the Association of Teachers of Life and Earth Sciences (AESVT) and the Italian organisation COSPE.

Building on this momentum, holding a Regional Forum on Climate Change Adaptation in the BMK region in Béni Mellal is a strategic opportunity to bring together institutional, civil society, economic, academic, and media actors in a structured space for dialogue, sharing of experience, and co-construction of recommendations for more resilient and inclusive territorial policies.

3. Event title

Regional Forum on Climate Change Adaptation

Sub-theme: Territorial dialogue, local innovation, and inclusive governance for lasting climate resilience in the BMK region.

• Venue: Chamber of Agriculture, Béni Mellal (MAPS)
• Date: Thursday 26/3/2026 — 09 :00

4. Overall objective

Contribute to strengthening territorial climate governance in the Béni Mellal-Khénifra region through multi-stakeholder dialogue that fosters consultation, sharing of experience, and the emergence of concrete solutions for adaptation to climate change.

5. Specific objectives

• Create a multi-stakeholder dialogue space among civil society, local authorities, public institutions, and other stakeholders on territorial climate adaptation.
• Share key outcomes, results, and lessons from the ASTA project, including on participatory diagnostics, citizen mobilisation, advocacy, and local climate governance.
• Discuss regional adaptation priorities in line with the needs of territories and the most vulnerable groups, especially women and youth.
• Highlight local initiatives and innovative solutions in green entrepreneurship, integrated water management, territorial planning, and access to climate information.
• Formulate operational recommendations to strengthen integration of adaptation to climate change into policies, plans, and territorial governance mechanisms.

6. Participants

The forum will bring together a diverse range of regional and local actors, including:

• Representatives of local authorities
• Representatives of decentralised services and relevant public institutions
• Civil society organisations
• National and international NGOs
• Cooperatives, small enterprises, and green initiative leaders
• Researchers, academics, and experts
• Regional and national media
• Young leaders, engaged women, and other community actors
• Members of the Oum Er-Rbia Agro-Industrial Cluster (COER)

7. Expected results

At the end of the forum, the following results are expected:

• A strengthened regional dialogue framework among public actors, civil society, and other stakeholders on climate adaptation
• Greater visibility of ASTA results and local experience in inclusive climate governance
• Capitalisation of good practices, challenges, and lessons learned in the region
• Stronger networking among institutional, civil society, economic, and academic actors
• Concrete, shared recommendations to improve territorial climate adaptation policies
• Greater awareness of climate resilience and citizen participation issues in the region

8. Thematic focus areas

9. In collaboration with

• Oum Er-Rbia Agro-Industrial Cluster (COER)
• Swisscontact
• SOCODEVI

Forum visuals

Detailed programme