Errachid Montassir HAF project manager A partnership agreement brought together The High Atlas Foundation (HAF) which works to establish participatory development projects for the Moroccan communities, and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE), the world’s second largest wind turbine manufacturer and provides onshore and offshore wind services. Both are dedicated to working with the communities and

By Kerstin Opfer Operations manager High Atlas Foundation Marrakech We are living in a time, where the humankind faces an unprecedented challenge – it is the warmest it has ever been on earth since human presence. The dangers of climate change are known since the 1980s but a lack of political will and societal awareness

Manon Burbidge Lund University HAF Intern – Marrakech Morocco to Invest $14bn in Renewable Energy Morocco is working towards achieving its goal of 52% renewable energy by 2030 by putting $14bn of investment into the renewable energy sector. Included amongst larger scale projects are installations of off-grid solar capacity which will reach 1000 rural villages

French version Arabic version MEDIA RELEASE                                                    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday 17th January 2019 Tree Planting Day provides economic, social and environmental development across Morocco Moroccan communities are being invited to plant thousands

HAF Intern (from Germany) I was excited about my first field visit and about getting to know what the High Atlas Foundation’s work looks like in action, because before starting my internship, I only saw the social media posts, blog articles, and photos. This day, we didn’t travel long, as we went to two schools

   Under the auspices of the University of Virginia, the High Atlas Foundation’s President, Dr. Yossef Ben-Meir, will lead a four-credit academic internship program from May 27th to July 19th in Marrakech on the practical and theoretical dimensions of participatory development. While completing internships at the HAF and engaging in related coursework, students will facilitate communities’ planning of projects

Yossef Ben-Meir, Ph.D. President High Atlas Foundation I had such a memorable day today in Amman, Jordan, thanks to the Bureau of Oceans,  International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES), with whom the High Atlas Foundation has a grants program to benefit local civil associations in this stunning country of thoroughly deep, even biblical, historical culture. I met

Errachid Montassir HAF project The High Atlas Foundation (HAF) and the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES) continue to spread the vision of protecting the environment amongst the next generation, with the presence of Moroccan civil society members. Lwidan rural commune in Marrakech region was our stop this time, where we

By Nisreen Abo-Sido, HAF Volunteer, Thomas J. Watson Fellow Last week, I joined HAF Project Manager, Amina El Hajjami, and an engineer from Agence du Bassin Hydrauliques on a visit to Tassa Ouirgane village to assess the feasibility of constructing gabions along the river for flood-prevention.  A member of the local association guided us and explained the

Zineb Sfar Volontaire, Douar Tizian En tant qu’étudiante à l’Université Privée de Marrakech (UPM), j’ai eu l’occasion de participer à un atelier sur l’environnement avec la Fondation du Haut Atlas pour le Douar de TIZYAN, avec le soutien du Bureau International Océanique, Environnemental et Scientifique des États-Unis. A l’heure de notre arrivé, nous avons eu

 The High Atlas Foundation (HAF) is committed to promoting sustainable development, using a participatory-action approach to address challenges identified by communities.  While partnering with community members, local associations, schools, municipal governing bodies, and other stakeholders, HAF believes in the efficacy of sustained communication and meaningful involvement in fostering skills and methods to enact positive

Manon Burbidge Lund University, Sweden HAF Inter- Marrakech French Development Agency Lends €50 Million to Improve Moroccan Water Supply The Moroccan Electricity and Drinking Water Bureau (ONEE) received €50m to implement a drinking water resilience project in Morocco’s northern provinces, including Al-Hoceima, Driouch and Taounate. The project will strengthen water production, increase storage autonomy and improve

By Aitana Arias, HAF volunteer Members of the HAF team had the chance to visit the Central Hospital of Sidi Zouine and get involved with the village community. HAF has previously planted trees in schools but this time we had the chance to plant trees at a hospital yard for a good reason: to make

Greetings Friends, Here we have a final moment in 2018 where we can give to uplift the course of families, communities, schools, cooperatives, women’s groups, and youth. Morocco is creating opportunities for its people by encouraging through its policies and programs public participation in all aspects of development. For local communities of the nation to

Project Manager Traveling to the Bouchan commune was my first field visit with the High Atlas Foundation (HAF), when I was a volunteer in 2016. I had the chance again this year to take part in the tree-planting event and an environmental workshop with local farmers from the same village at the school. The weather

Errachid Montassir HAF project manager At present, the world community has limited options for responding to humanitarian crises. It’s time to engage more the youth in building plans in order to create a collective commitment of key actors to ensure that the priorities and rights of communities around the world affected by disaster, conflict, forced

By Nisreen Abo-Sido, HAF Volunteer, Thomas J. Watson Fellow Last week, HAF President Yossef Ben-Meir, program assistant Hassan Ait Ouatouch, a couple of forestry engineers and I visited farmers and community leaders in the villages of Aghbalou and Anamer, and in the Azilal Province to discuss the potential of carbon credits to support development projects

The High Atlas Foundation (HAF)–partnering with the Holling’s Center for International Dialogue (DC/Istanbul) and the Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd Program for Strategic Research at the University of Central Florida–hosted a conference from November 15th-17th for the community and government partners, other thought leaders, and the staff and volunteers of HAF.  Together, we explored the complexity

عبدالهادي كستيح متطوع بمؤسسة الأطلس الكبير  يأتي الصباح ليذكرنا بإشراقة جميلة ويوم جديد ويعطينا أمل جديد للاستمرار في تحقيق أهداف نبيلة.  بصفتي متطوع مع مؤسسة الاطلس الكبير حظيت بشرف الانضمام الي ورشة بيئية لفائدة ساكنة دوار أعربات رفقة مجموعة من طلاب الجامعة الخاصة بمراكش وتحت اشراف مؤسسة الاطلس الكبير وبدعم من المكتب الدولي للمحيطات و الشؤون

Today, we gathered with schoolchildren from Aarabat primary school, members of the community, and Private University of Marrakech (UPM) students for our second Bureau of Oceans and International Environment and Scientific Affairs (OES) workshop this week.  On this beautiful morning, the community, schoolchildren, teachers, and local association members welcomed us warmly, making us extremely happy and comfortable to start the

By Manon Burbidge Lund University, Sweden Marrakech Morocco Loses $174m Annually Due to Climate Change The Global Climate Risk Index 2019, published on 27th November, revealed that over the period 1998-2017, Morocco lost $174m annually due to climatic hazards, considerably impacting GDP. It also ranks 124th in the world for countries facing climate risk and 108th for climate-related

Manon Burbidge Lund University, Sweden Marrakech On the morning of 6th December 2018, I got the chance to attend a panel at the 11th Global Forum for Migration and Development (GFMD), this year hosted in Marrakech, Morocco.  The core theme was focussed on “Honouring International Commitments to Unlock Potential of All Migrants for Development” and was the largest

by Nisreen Abo-Sido, HAF volunteer, Thomas J. Watson Fellow Over the weekend, part of the HAF team visited a primary school in Rhamna to check in with community leaders, distribute 140 fruit trees, and join in the excitement of playing and planting with energetic children and volunteers.  Activity organizers welcomed us with warm bread and

The beauty of Morocco exists not only in the big cities but also in the charming villages of the countryside. Many villages and residential communities are scattered along the Atlas Mountain range, from the south-west of the country to the far east, and the activities vary from one region to the other. Nevertheless, they share

by Nisreen Abo-Sido, HAF Volunteer, Thomas J. Watson Fellow On my first site visit as the newest member of the HAF team, I joined Errachid—our project manager and volunteer coordinator—on a visit to El Youssoufia to attend a regional OCP Company meeting. Formerly known as Office chérifien des phosphates, OCP holds economic importance in Morocco

                 The High Atlas Foundation (HAF), in  partnership with the Bureau of Oceans  and  International Environmental and  Scientific Affairs within the U.S.  Department of State, announce a  call    for applications for community-led  sustainable projects through the  competitive small grants program  “Environmental Challenge”. The Environmental Challenge aims to decentralize decision-making,

Manon Burbidge HAF Intern- Marrakech Lund University, Sweden Morocco Launches Climate Finance Expertise Programme at “Africities” Conference The Kingdom of Morocco announced a national strategy aimed at funding projects for climate resilience at the Africities Conference on Wednesday, which is currently being held from 20-24th November in Marrakech. The “Sub-National Climate Finance Expertise Programme” is designed

By Amelia Haigh HAF Volunteer from Australia Marrakech In a world where we create a living from shared resources, live in shared communities and all of our actions have flow-on effects, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is essential. It is also becoming more and more common, and we all know the benefits that CSR can provide.

Manon Burbidge HAF Intern- Marrakech Lund University, Sweden January is the traditional tree-planting season in Morocco, meaning that right now, the High Atlas Foundation (HAF) is gearing up to take on new tree-planting project ideas that are springing up across the country. Last week, I joined Errachid, HAF’s project manager, on his site visits to

Manon Burbidge HAF Intern- Marrakech Lund University, Sweden Eco-Friendly Public Transport in Safi The urban commune of Safi announced that it would be introducing eco-friendly buses into the city from 1st January 2019. 45 new buses, which are engineered in Germany and tailored for those with special mobility needs will join the fleet in the new