Drinking water supply for the rural population of the douar of Tighmarte (Morocco)

The volunteers of our organisation who make up the Board of Directors and the Projects Committee are committed to collaborating and seeking ways to mitigate the consequences of natural disasters in the event of any international emergency. In this case, following the earthquake in September 2023 in the Marrakech and High Atlas region, it was decided to start working to find partnerships with other organisations and to be able to provide a cooperative response to this disaster, perhaps not in the emergency phase but in the subsequent reconstruction phase. In order to gain a first-hand understanding of the reality of life for the inhabitants of the affected areas, at the end of November, a volunteer, together with members of other organisations, travelled to the High Atlas to explore possible collaborations and identify cooperation projects. In this way, Acción Solidaria y Logística became acquainted with the Association Jeunes de Tighmarte pour le Développement Local and the community of Tighmarte. After learning about their situation, their needs and the effect of the earthquake on the region, it was deemed feasible to initiate a collaboration to support the association’s projects to strengthen and empower the community.

The project is envisaged as a cooperative collaboration between the small community of Tighmarte, made up of 65 families, and our organisation. The local entity that will act as our counterpart is the Association Jeunes de Tighmarte pour le Développement Local. This association has identified the most immediate needs and has prioritised two: the supply of drinking water and the creation of employment in the small douar. This project aims to address the priority of supplying drinking water to the village. Currently, the collection, distribution and storage system is precarious, which means that there is no continuous or sufficient supply for the families in the village, especially in the months of greatest need. An added problem is the quality of the water, as its high lime content causes health problems for the inhabitants. The project aims to improve the infrastructure by building a new reservoir, improving the water supply and reducing the pressure that constantly damages the pipe system. It is also necessary to find solutions to the water quality issue in order to preventively reduce possible health problems for the inhabitants of the douar.

The direct beneficiaries are the entire population of the douar of Tighmarte, comprising 227 inhabitants.

A project supported by: