Irrigation Systems for Fruit Trees in Africa

The High Atlas Foundation (HAF) is proud to welcome Souad Agnaou as its new Director of Sustainable Agriculture.

With over a decade of experience in Morocco's agricultural transformation, including her work as a Project Manager and Gender Focal Point at the Agence pour le Développement Agricole (ADA), Souad brings invaluable expertise to HAF's mission.

She has contributed to flagship national programs such as the Green Morocco Plan and Generation Green 2020–2030, always focusing on the intersection of people, land, and sustainable development.

Souad was drawn to HAF because of its deeply people-centered approach to environmental work. After years in the public sector, she wanted to be closer to the ground where ideas directly touch lives and landscapes.

Her vision is to strengthen HAF's tree-planting program into a flagship model of climate-smart agroforestry that regenerates ecosystems while creating dignified livelihoods.

At the heart of her work is a commitment to empowering communities, particularly women's cooperatives and youth groups in mountain regions, to lead environmental change with the support, tools, and trust they need to succeed. Read the full interview with Souad below:

Introduction & Background

Could you tell us a little about your professional journey so far? Over the past decade, my professional path has been deeply rooted in Morocco’s agricultural transformation.

I have always been drawn to the intersection of people, land, and purpose and this calling has guided me through every stage of my career.

Before joining the High Atlas Foundation, I served as a Project manager and Gender Focal Point at the “Agence pour le Développement Agricole” (ADA), where I had the privilege of contributing to flagship national programs such as the Green Morocco Plan and Generation Green 2020–2030.

This experience taught me that true development happens when productivity and human dignity grow together when agriculture becomes not only a means of livelihood, but a path toward empowerment, equity, and ecological balance.

What motivated you to take on the role of Director of Tree-Planting at HAF? What inspired me to join HAF was its deeply human approach to development.

The Foundation’s work goes far beyond planting trees; it is about planting hope, opportunity, and ownership within communities.

After years of working in the public sector, I wanted to be closer to the ground, to see ideas take root in real lives and landscapes.

This role allows me to combine my technical expertise with my passion for people, nature, and impact and to contribute directly to building a more resilient Morocco.

Vision & Strategy

What is your long-term vision for HAF’s tree-planting program? My long-term vision is to see HAF’s tree-planting evolve into a flagship model of climate-smart agroforestry in Morocco, one that regenerates ecosystems while creating dignified livelihoods.

We are not simply planting millions of trees; we are restoring balance between people and nature. Every tree should represent both environmental resilience and economic opportunity, a living bridge between sustainability and social justice.

Are there particular regions or communities you want to focus on? Our work spans multiple regions from the High Atlas to Fès-Meknès and the Oriental each facing unique ecological and social challenges.

I am particularly committed to supporting mountain communities where soil erosion, water scarcity, and rural exodus are most severe.

These are also places where women’s cooperatives and youth groups have the greatest potential to lead change if given the right tools and trust.

Technical & Environmental Aspects

Which tree species are most important for the program, and why? We prioritize native and high-value species such as carob, almond, olive, argan, pomegranate, and fig.

Each has a story and a purpose; they are resilient, adapted to local ecosystems, and deeply woven into Morocco’s cultural and economic fabric.

The carob tree thrives in dry conditions while providing long-term income through food and cosmetic products. Choosing the right tree is both a scientific and symbolic act; it connects climate resilience to heritage and identity.

What are the biggest challenges in carrying out reforestation projects in Morocco? Our main challenges are linked to water scarcity, land availability, and the logistics of reaching remote areas.

Climate change has intensified these constraints, but it has also reminded us of the importance of adaptation.

Success requires not only technical planning, but also deep collaboration, aligning farmers, local authorities, and donors around shared goals and realistic timelines.

How do you address issues like water scarcity, climate change, and soil erosion? We combine traditional wisdom with modern technology.

Water-harvesting basins, terracing, solar-powered drip irrigation, and soil regeneration practices are part of our daily operations.

But beyond techniques, it’s about the mindset encouraging communities to view water and soil as living partners. We also invest heavily in training so that farmers can adapt to climate variability with confidence and autonomy.

Community & Collaboration

What role do local communities play in planting and caring for the trees? Communities are the true heart of this work. At HAF, we don’t impose projects, we co-create them.

From nursery management to planting and maintenance, farmers, women’s cooperatives, and schools take the lead. Our role is to support with training, seedlings, and technical guidance.

This participatory approach builds trust, accountability, and a sense of pride because the trees belong to them, not to us.

Are there key partnerships with other organizations or institutions that strengthen the program? Yes, partnerships are central to our model.

We collaborate closely with national institutions such as the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Agency for Water and Forests, the National Initiative for human development as well as international partners.

These alliances help us bridge local action with global impact combining financial support, scientific knowledge, and shared learning.

Impact & Future

How do you measure success both in numbers and in terms of social impact? We measure success on several levels. Quantitatively, we track the number of trees planted and surviving, the hectares restored, and the farmers trained.

Qualitatively, we assess empowerment, especially how women and youth are participating and benefiting.

For me, success is when a farmer says, “These trees have changed my life,” or when a community starts planting without waiting for external support. That’s when we know change is real.

Is there a message you’d like to share with readers and supporters of HAF? Each tree we plant carries the promise of renewal for the land, for communities, and for the generations to come.

I invite everyone who believes in the power of nature and human potential to take part in this movement.

Whether by planting a tree, supporting a nursery, or empowering a rural woman or young farmer, every contribution helps transform lives and landscapes.

Together, we can turn reforestation into a living expression of empowerment, care, and resilience, a legacy that grows with every season.

On September 8, 2023, a devastating earthquake struck Morocco, with its epicenter in the High Atlas Mountains, profoundly impacting the provinces of Al Haouz, Taroudant, Chichaoua, Marrakech, Ouarzazate, and Azilal, resulting in the tragic loss of 2,960 lives.

The immediate aftermath saw extensive relief efforts, underscoring the urgent need for a robust strategy for disaster recovery.

Morocco's existing water infrastructure is extensive. The country has a significant network of dams, comprising 13 water transfer systems that connect watersheds, as well as a total of 140 large dams and 150 small to medium-sized dams built between 1950 and 2015.

These structures are vital for irrigation, which accounts for a substantial portion of water use, relying on large dams (47% in 2009), small dams (23%), and private irrigation (30%).

However, dam capacity is continuously lost to siltation, the process of water blockage due to sand or soil, at a rate of 70 million cubic meters per year (MCM/yr).

While there are pending initiatives to build 38 new dams by 2030 and renovate upstream areas to reduce erosion, earthquakes pose a direct threat to the structural integrity of these critical assets.

Beyond modern infrastructure, traditional systems like khettaras (underground canals) also play a crucial role in water collection and distribution, especially in remote, mountainous areas, embodying traditional ecological knowledge (TEK).

However, the fixed, gravity-fed nature of khettaras makes them less adaptable to fluctuating water availability or changes in agricultural needs.

Recovering from an earthquake in such regions must involve sustainable rebuilding that respects and harnesses this established knowledge and integrates this invaluable, yet inherently vulnerable TEK.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Guidance Note on Disaster Recovery advocates for a "Build Back Better" approach for nations facing natural disasters.

The UNDP highlights how disasters, such as the earthquake that struck Nepal in the spring of 2015, offer a pragmatic approach: utilizing GIS, a tool that connects data to a map, allowing users to visualize, analyze, and understand the relationships between different types of information based on their locations.

GIS analyses and Earth observation data can assess damage, map population distribution for water demand estimation, and analyze accessibility for rehabilitation efforts.

For Morocco's mountainous terrain, where access has been challenging since the earthquake, such technologies are essential for efficient and effective water infrastructure recovery.

GIS allows for a more data-driven, systematic, and proactive response than ground-based assessments. High-resolution elevation data can guide the optimal placement and design of new water supply systems, ensuring sustainable long-term solutions.

Morocco’s current disaster governance framework, described as a Whole-of-Government (WoG) approach, was formed during the 2023 response.

While this model facilitated some coordination between civil and political actors, gaps in local preparedness, civil society integration, and information management became apparent, slowing relief efforts.

A more resilient response to future disasters will require a restructuring of how water infrastructure recovery is managed at the institutional level.

Centralization does not necessarily have to conflict with decentralization. Integrating local actors into decision-making processes—especially those with traditional knowledge of water systems—can enhance legitimacy and lead to more context-sensitive solutions.

For example, the National Irrigation Administration in the Philippines supported a two-tier structure, with service associations at the base level and irrigation associations encompassing them at the project level.

One proposal is the establishment of a National Emergency Water Recovery Agency, embedded within a broader emergency management structure.

This agency could develop standardized damage assessment protocols, coordinate logistics between ministries and local governments, and ensure transparent distribution of reconstruction resources.

By balancing centralized oversight with decentralized responsiveness, Morocco can create a more agile and cohesive recovery system.

Another key legal principle needed in recovery is participatory cooperation, which in international law mandates data sharing, joint planning, and mutual support among watercourse states.

Morocco can internalize this concept by fostering transparent, participatory governance in the water sector.

Data on aquifer levels, infrastructure damage, and water quality can be made publicly available and accessible to researchers, civil society organizations, and affected communities.

Utilizing data from public Moroccan Universities such as Mohammed V University in Rabat, Hassan II University in Casablanca, and Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech can enhance GIS usage by identifying areas most vulnerable to future seismic events and inform resilient infrastructure design using open-source research for participatory development.

Morocco's path to post-earthquake recovery, particularly concerning water infrastructure, demands a multi-faceted approach. It must leverage advanced remote sensing such as GIS and TEK technologies for rapid assessment and strategic planning.

Morocco can draw valuable lessons from international water law principles to strengthen its overall water governance and security, building a more resilient future against challenges posed by both climate and seismic activity.

This comprehensive strategy will not only help Morocco recover from the current devastation but also fortify its water future for generations to come.