The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) won the 8th Hassan II Grand Prix for Water on Monday in Bali, Indonesia.
Selected from 84 submissions, FAO received a check worth $500,000 (USD) during the opening ceremony of the 10th World Water Forum, held until May 25 at the Nusa Dua Convention Center in Bali.
FAO won the award for its commitment to water resource security, food sovereignty and shared prosperity.”
Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch highlighted that the 8th Hassan II Grand Prix for Water pays tribute to the late King Hassan II for his endeavors in water policy and sustainable development, including the construction of dams and irrigation networks.
The prize also honors King Mohammed VI, who initiated an ambitious program amounting to $14 billion USD dedicated to water sustainability. This program seeks to continue building dams and implementing inter-basin water transfers, along with the construction of several seawater desalination units in major Moroccan cities such as Casablanca, Agadir, and Tangier.
Established in March, 2002, the Hassan II Grand Prix for Water is a joint initiative of the World Water Council and Morocco.
Awarded every three years during each edition of the Forum, the Hassan II Grand Prix for Water acknowledges project initiators who have made significant contributions in water resource development and utilization, spanning scientific, economic, technical, environmental, social, institutional, cultural, and political domains.
The opening ceremony of the 10th World Water Forum featured a documentary on Morocco’s water resource management policy.
Akhannouch and Minister of Equipment and Water Nizar Baraka led the official Moroccan delegation participating in the 10th edition of the World Water Forum on “Water for Shared Prosperity.”