The World Bank has approved a $500 million financing package for Morocco under its First Morocco Jobs and Green Growth Development Policy Loan, aimed at expanding employment opportunities and accelerating the country’s green transition.

The funding, the first in a planned series of three operations, will support Morocco’s national jobs strategy by improving labor market policies, strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and promoting investment in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and export-oriented pharmaceutical industries.

The program is expected to benefit more than 330,000 job seekers by 2029 through expanded employment initiatives and better alignment between education systems and private sector needs.

 It will also boost female workforce participation by increasing access to licensed childcare, creating over 40,000 new childcare spaces and around 1,200 jobs for women.

In addition, the initiative includes reforms to improve the business environment, particularly for SMEs.

These measures include modernizing insolvency frameworks, enhancing credit guarantee systems, and streamlining investment processes through regional investment centers.

The financing supports Morocco’s transition toward a greener economy. The plan removes barriers to private investment in renewable energy while expanding energy efficiency services. In addition, the country’s pharmaceutical sector will gain support to scale exports, with projections indicating nearly sevenfold growth by 2029.

According to the World Bank, this integrated approach tackles key structural challenges, including youth unemployment, low female labor participation, and limited private investment while boosting economic resilience and competitiveness. Ahmadou Moustapha Ndiaye, Division Director for the Maghreb and Malta, emphasized that the reforms will unlock high-growth enterprises and attract sustained investment into the economy.

Ultimately, Morocco’s latest partnership with the World Bank signals a strategic shift toward inclusive growth. By combining job creation, private sector expansion, and climate-focused policies, the country is positioning itself as a leading model for sustainable economic transformation in Africa.