ASTA (ⴰⵙⵎⵓⵙⵙⵓ - ⵜⴰⴷⵔⴰⵡⵜ) - Towards Inclusive Territorial Public Policies for Climate Change Adaptation

Empowering communities through sustainable development and inclusive policies

Location

Beni Mellal-Khénifra region

Duration

2024 - 2026

Project Overview

The ASTA (ⴰⵙⵎⵓⵙⵙⵓ - ⵜⴰⴷⵔⴰⵡⵜ) project aims to promote inclusive territorial public policies for climate change adaptation in the Beni Mellal-Khénifra region. This two-year initiative is implemented by AIDECA with co-financing under the AMUSSU program, which is part of the Morocco-European Union partnership for the period 2023-2027 and the Strategic Support Program for Civil Society (PASSC). The project focuses on strengthening local actors' capacities in climate change adaptation, promoting inclusive territorial policies, and enhancing civil society's role in climate governance. Through a comprehensive approach that combines capacity building, participatory diagnostics, and multi-stakeholder engagement, ASTA aims to foster sustainable development through climate integration at the local level. The initiative works with five target communes in the region, developing and implementing participatory tools for climate risk and vulnerability assessment. The project also emphasizes the importance of gender equality and social inclusion in climate action, working closely with the Instance de l'Equité, de l'Egalité des Chances et de l'Approche Genre (IEECAG) in each commune.

Media Coverage: Watch the official 2M TV coverage of the ASTA project launch event: 2M News - ASTA Project Launch

2025. First climate change bootcamp in Azilal

First Climate Change Bootcamp Successfully Completed

The city of Azilal hosted the first bootcamp on climate change from February 13-16, 2025, bringing together local elected officials, administrative staff, and members of consultative bodies from the target municipalities.

The event focused on strengthening participants' capacities in climate challenges, deepening knowledge of climate policies, and highlighting the strategic role of local authorities and civil society in climate action. The bootcamp served as a foundation for future climate initiatives in the region.

Multi-stakeholder workshop on climate change adaptation in Azilal commune

Multi-Stakeholder Workshops Across the Region

The project has successfully organized multi-stakeholder workshops in five target communes across the Beni Mellal-Khénifra region, bringing together civil society organizations, local elected officials, community leaders, and media representatives to address climate change adaptation challenges.

These workshops have engaged 378 local actors in collaborative discussions and action planning, ensuring that diverse voices are heard in the development of climate adaptation strategies at the territorial level.

Multi-stakeholder workshop on climate change adaptation in Naour, Beni Mellal

Participatory Approach to Climate Resilience

Through these workshops, participants have collectively identified 50 interventions and measures to address climate vulnerabilities in their territories. The inclusive process ensures that local knowledge and community priorities are integrated into climate adaptation planning.

The project emphasizes gender equality and youth participation, with 40% of participants being young people and 30% being women, ensuring that climate action is truly inclusive and representative of all community members.

Multi-stakeholder workshop on climate change adaptation in Khenifra

Building Local Capacity for Climate Action

The workshops have served as platforms for knowledge exchange, where civil society organizations, local authorities, and communities collaborate to develop context-specific solutions to climate challenges.

Together, participants have conducted 5 participatory diagnostics to identify intervention pathways that address the unique climate vulnerabilities of each commune while building on local strengths and opportunities.

Share this project

Project Results

A tailored and accelerated capacity building program for 35 civil servants, policy makers and civil society on climate change

An inclusive and participatory assessment tool for climate risks and vulnerability assessment developed and tested across the region

378 local actors (including CSOs, local elected officials, community leaders, media...) engaged in 5 multi-stakeholder workshops on climate change adaptation in the 5 communes piloted in the BMK region

765 citizens involved across the five communes in participatory assessments, focus groups, and questionnaires

40% of participants in project activities are young people and 30% are women

5 participatory diagnostics carried out with civil society and communes to identify intervention pathways

50 interventions and measures identified collectively with local policy makers, private sector and civil society