Morocco and MENA region - Establishing a center of excellence and enhancing air quality management

RATIONALE

This project responds to the request by Morocco’s Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development to champion the Africa Clean Air Programme. This project aims to support the implementation of Morocco’s National Air Program (PNAIR) and the development of a MENA region Center of Excellence for Clean Air, building on existing institutions. The center will build national and regional capacity for air quality management across the region.

Morocco has recognized the strategic importance of acting on air pollution and climate together. Morocco has joined the CCAC in 2014 and has endorsed a National Action Plan to Mitigate SLCPs which identifies measures that both improve air quality and mitigate climate change. Morocco identified the transport, household energy, industry, livestock, and energy sectors as priority areas for SLCP mitigation. The National SLCP Action Plan estimates that full implementation of targeted measures could reduce transport-related particulate pollution by 51.6% compared to 2014 levels, and significantly cut household energy emissions, yielding substantial health and social gains. The implementation of Euro VI fuel alone is responsible for almost 38 percent of the expected reduction of particulate matter in the transport sector. Morocco is the first country in Africa to adopt EuroVI standard to achieve 10 parts per million fuels. Morocco is currently working with CCAC support on its enforcement and on engaging with other countries in the region. 

Morocco has endorsed a National Air Program (PNAir) in 2018 to improve air quality across a range of priority sectors by 2030. The program’s primary objective is to consolidate existing initiatives aimed at reducing emissions from both fixed and mobile sources, while simultaneously improving air quality across various sectors.

The key focus areas of the PNAir include:

• Expanding the air quality monitoring network across the country.
• Reducing atmospheric emissions from both industrial and transportation sectors.
• Strengthening the legal and regulatory framework for air quality.
• Raising public awareness through communication efforts.

The PNAir adopts a partnership-based approach, engaging key stakeholders to implement and achieve its goals. Significant progress has been made in establishing and expanding the National Air Quality Monitoring Network, as well as drafting regulatory frameworks to protect air quality. However, challenges remain, particularly in the implementation of additional PNAir initiatives, which require greater technical expertise and financial support to fully achieve the program’s objectives.

Morocco has submitted its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) to the UNFCCC Secretariat. This new NDC, covering the period 2026–2035, targets to reduce GHG emissions by 53% by 2035 and includes for the first time, of fluorinated gases and short-lived air pollutants. With CCAC support Morocco finalized and endorsed a national methane roadmap with 14 recommended methane mitigation measures that some of them have been considered in the NDC3.0. 

The MENA region faces significant challenges in air quality management and capacity building in the environment sector. The region experiences various air pollution sources, including dust storms, greenhouse gas emissions, urban and industrial growth, and transportation emissions, all contributing to deteriorating air quality. Despite some regional cooperation efforts and scientific exchanges, there remains a notable lack of institutional capabilities for comprehensive air pollution control and monitoring within the region. Effective air quality management in the MENA region requires enhanced ground-based monitoring networks, the use of available tools to collect more data (ex. satellites), and strategic shifts in policies (ex. in fuel and transport). Importantly, capacity building is needed to reinforce institutional frameworks, improve data collection and analysis, and foster regional collaboration for sustainable development and pollution mitigation. These efforts align with ongoing initiatives to promote integrated resource management and environmental governance in the region.

Objective

This project is expected to achieve:

• Strengthened National Air Quality Governance by improving regulatory frameworks
• Enhanced Monitoring and Data Management to provide to those concerned real-time pollution data for informed decision-making.
• Development of a Regional Center to facilitate harmonized air quality management and policy development across the MENA region.
• Regional Coordination by fostering collaboration across governmental and non-governmental stakeholders, including the integration of local, national, and regional air quality data
• Financial and Technical Sustainability of air quality management through capacity-building and identification of funding sources for long-term operations.

Activities

Outcome 1: The Government of Morocco has updated and strengthened atmospheric emission and concentration data, inventory and monitoring system by the end of the project or soon after

Indicator: Number of SLCP mitigation tools, technologies, or practices adopted

• Output 1.1:  Updated, integrated national emissions inventory (GHG + SLCP + criteria air pollutants) and improved regional data on atmospheric emission sources
• Output 1.2:  Evaluation of the National Air Quality Monitoring Program (PNSQA) and identification of areas where progress has been made, of gaps and areas for improvement.

Outcome 2: The Government of Morocco has strengthened regulatory frameworks for air quality management by the end of the project or soon after

Indicator: Number of laws, regulations, or other policy mechanisms with air pollutants and SLCP targets or mitigation measures formally adopted, endorsed, and/or implemented  

• Output 2.1: Comprehensive analysis of current air quality laws and regulations and of progress of the implementation of PNAir.
• Output 2.2: Report identifying gaps and inefficiencies in the existing regulatory framework and in PNAir.
• Output 2.3: Recommendations for strengthening the regulatory framework and enforcement mechanisms, for updating ambient air quality and emissions standards (in alignment with WHO air quality guidelines and NAAQS) and for strengthening the implementation of PNAir.
• Output 2.4: Stakeholder consultations and public engagement workshops to discuss recommendations and agree on way forward.

Outcome 3: A centre of excellence is established to increase technical and institutional capacities on air quality management by the end of the project.

Indicator: Number of government entities in the MENA region with a demonstrated improved capacity for SLCP action

• Output 3.1:  A Center of Excellence designed, formally endorsed by relevant bodies such as AUC as a regional mechanism for air quality leadership, science-policy advice and coordination, and established. This should include at the minimum:
  • Identify and engage relevant stakeholders including universities, research organizations, air quality monitoring services, government entities and civil society
  • Assess existing national and regional capabilities for air quality management and gaps in technical knowledge and institutional arrangements to be addressed by the center
  • Develop institutional and governance structure of the center
  • Develop detailed budget for startup and operation
  • Leverage political support on a national and regional level for setting up and operating the center
  • Identify services to be provided by the centre including:
    • Development of harmonized standards and procedures for monitoring and data management at the regional level
    • Enhancing air quality monitoring and data management informing policy and decision-making processes
    • Strengthening regional capacity in air quality management
    • Facilitating evidence-based policy and action plan development
    • Support development and implementation of comprehensive national and regional air quality management strategies and policies and ensure alignment at regional level
    • Develop regional data management systems for air quality data
    • Evaluation of impacts of air quality improvement actions
    • Knowledge and experience sharing
    • Sustainable financing and resource mobilization plan for the implementation and sustainable operation of the center, including proposals submitted to national, regional and international funding mechanisms.
    • Strategic partnerships
    • Regional awareness raising and communication strategy.
• Output 3.2: Regional knowledge exchange platform and learning labs launched by center, supporting south-south learning and best practice transfer, in collaboration with AQMx. 
  Leveraging AQMx knowledge and tools—ensuring its continuous update, integration, and uptake into the Centre’s framework and capacity-building curricula to promote harmonized and data-driven air quality management across the continent.  
• Output 3.3.: Regional policy consultations convened, and strategy developed to promote harmonized air quality standards and regulations in Africa. 

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