The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) has granted a $272m loan for water supply in Morocco’s cities Agadir and Chtouka Ait Baha.

A memorandum of understanding has been signed by Morocco’s Economic Minister and the IDB group president in Rabat.

The loans will be distributed on the basis of two separate projects. The first project involves the building of infrastructure that will transport water from Tamri treatment plant to Agadir, and is expected to supply water to over 1.5 million people.

The second project is the construction of a drinking water facility that will benefit the rural community of Chtouka Ait Baha. The hope is that the water facility, by way of boosting productivity and improving living conditions, will increase the income of farmers three-fold.