The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is preparing a scientific program with Moroccan authorities to protect low-rise housing from earthquakes, using artificial intelligence, local materials, and community-based prevention. The plan was announced following the devastating September 2023 earthquake in Al Haouz province, which killed nearly 3,000 people and damaged over 60,000 homes.
According to JICA's official statement on July 14, 2026, the program will involve AI-driven risk assessment, promoting the use of traditional Moroccan materials like rammed earth and stone, and training local communities in seismic safety. The initiative aims to retrofit existing homes and guide new construction in rural areas.
JICA has a history of earthquake risk reduction projects in Morocco, including a 2015-2018 project that developed seismic hazard maps. The new program is expected to run from 2027 to 2030, with a budget of approximately $5 million, funded by the Japanese government.
Morocco's National Center for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST) will collaborate on the AI component, analyzing building vulnerability data. Local materials will be tested for seismic resilience at the University of Marrakech.
