Maternal and Child Health in Morocco: A UNICEF-KOICA Partnership to Strengthen Healthcare in Rural Areas
Rabat, September 30, 2025 – The UNICEF office in Morocco and the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) have signed a strategic partnership to improve maternal and child health in rural areas of Morocco. With a funding of $11.7 million, this project will be implemented between 2025 and 2029 in the Béni Mellal-Khénifra region, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection.
Reducing Maternal and Child Mortality in Morocco
The main objective is to reduce maternal, neonatal, and child mortality by focusing on the critical “first 1,000 days” of life, a vital period for child development. Despite progress, such as a decrease in infant mortality from 28.8 to 18 per 1,000 live births between 2011 and 2018, disparities persist between urban and rural areas. Maternal mortality remains high at 111.1 deaths per 100,000 live births in rural areas, compared to 44.6 in urban regions.
Three Strategic Pillars for Improving Maternal and Child Health
The UNICEF-KOICA project is built on three strategic priorities:
Improvement of Maternal and Neonatal Care: Widely implementing the Kangaroo Mother Care approach, neonatal screening, and enhancing water and sanitation infrastructure in health centers.
Promotion of Maternal and Child Nutrition: Supporting exclusive breastfeeding, distributing micronutrients, and certifying hospitals as “Baby-Friendly.”
Community Mobilization: Raising awareness among rural families, strengthening community health workers, and engaging civil society organizations.
A Direct Impact on Over 140,000 Beneficiaries Each Year
Each year, this program will directly benefit 15,500 pregnant and breastfeeding women, along with 125,000 children under five years of age. Additionally, 200 healthcare professionals will receive training, and 390 community health workers will be supported. Indirectly, over 1.3 million people living in rural areas will benefit from the positive outcomes of this project.
Support for Health Reforms in Morocco
This partnership aligns with UNICEF’s cooperation program with Morocco and KOICA’s strategic priorities. It supports major national reforms, such as universal health coverage, efforts to combat malnutrition, and the reduction of territorial inequalities.
Laura Bill, UNICEF Representative in Morocco, stated:
“This partnership with KOICA represents a unique opportunity to accelerate progress in maternal and child health and to support the Kingdom of Morocco’s efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.”
Hyewon Cho, KOICA’s Country Director, added:
“This project exemplifies Korea’s commitment to supporting Morocco’s health system and promoting an effective model for maternal and child health in rural areas.”
