The High Atlas Foundation (HAF), a U.S.-Moroccan nonprofit, has launched an intercultural development project aimed at community development and cultural preservation.
This initiative focuses on addressing the needs of local communities, with a strong emphasis on agriculture, clean drinking water, and education.
HAF’s approach revolves around participatory planning, where local communities identify their own development priorities, Development Diaries said.
Agriculture, which accounts for 80 percent of rural incomes, is a key focus, along with ensuring clean drinking water, improving irrigation systems, promoting family literacy, and preserving cultural heritage.
One of the landmark aspects of the project is a tree nursery established on land near a 700-year-old Jewish cemetery located 30 minutes outside of Marrakech.
The Moroccan Jewish community permitted HAF to use this land for the agricultural initiative, allowing for the cultivation of fruit trees like olive, fig, and pomegranate.
The project, known as the House of Life program, generates over 70,000 fruit trees annually and has been operational for over a decade.
The USAID Farmer-to-Farmer Program has played an essential role in enhancing the local community’s technical skills in nursery management, further ensuring the project’s success.
HAF’s four-day empowerment program engages communities emotionally and mentally, helping participants determine their development goals and create an action plan.
This process has helped communities identify key needs, such as irrigation systems, clean drinking water, and agricultural projects.
Alongside the agricultural efforts, women’s cooperatives in the surrounding areas have focused on reviving traditional crafts, such as carpet making.
Using local materials and dyes derived from medicinal plants, these women preserve their cultural history while generating income for their families.
In collaboration with private companies like Yves Saint Laurent Fashion and FENELEC, HAF implemented clean drinking water projects and solar-powered irrigation systems for the nursery.
The solar water pump system has significantly improved irrigation, helping to sustain the growing number of trees.
Additionally, a road was constructed to connect the Jewish cemetery to a nearby women’s cooperative, enabling visitors to engage with the community.
This has increased traffic to the area and provided new opportunities for cultural exchange and economic development.
As the project expanded, the Achbarou Women’s Cooperative has seen its members double their household income through the sale of carpets and other traditional crafts to visitors.
With support from the European Union and Planeterra, the cooperative reinvested its revenue into purchasing land to build a new workplace and storefront facility.
The Moroccan government has supported the expansion of this intercultural project by contributing USD 50,000 to the tree nurseries built on Moroccan Jewish community land.
These nurseries now serve as a model for community-driven development, combining agricultural growth with cultural preservation.
HAF currently supports nine nurseries across Morocco, housing over 3.2 million trees, with 800,000 recently transplanted.
The project’s success has attracted interest from universities, tourists, and researchers worldwide. Over 40 universities from Morocco, the U.S., and Europe have visited the pilot site, fostering intercultural dialogues and promoting awareness of Morocco’s rural development initiatives.
Through the USAID Dakira program, which aims to preserve Morocco’s cultural heritage, HAF has successfully integrated intercultural partnerships with local development.
Visitors not only engage with local communities but also gain a deeper understanding of Moroccan culture, agriculture, and rural life challenges.
The Achbarou Women’s Cooperative has become a key player in the local economy, with the support of the National Initiative for Human Development (NIHD).
Income from selling handmade carpets to tourists and university groups has allowed the cooperative to reinvest in its operations, further supporting rural families.
The High Atlas Foundation’s efforts have also addressed clean drinking water shortages in rural Morocco, where many girls are forced to fetch water instead of attending school. By improving water access and supporting agricultural projects, HAF has created a sustainable model for rural development that benefits entire communities.
Despite challenges like the 2023 earthquake, the project has continued to thrive, thanks to the resilience and determination of the Moroccan people.
The intercultural partnerships fostered through HAF’s initiatives have united communities and preserved Morocco’s rich cultural heritage while addressing pressing development needs.
HAF’s partnership with the Moroccan Jewish community and other local stakeholders has demonstrated the power of collaboration in achieving large-scale development.
With the ongoing support of the Moroccan government, the project is set to expand even further, bringing sustainable development to more rural regions across Morocco.
The High Atlas Foundation’s intercultural development initiative exemplifies how local communities can drive meaningful change, with the support of public and private partners.
By combining agriculture, cultural preservation, and community empowerment, HAF is helping to create a brighter future for rural Morocco.