On 8 September 2023, a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Morocco’s High Atlas region, with severe impacts across the provinces of Al Haouz, Taroudant and surrounding areas. The disaster resulted in extensive loss of life, widespread destruction of housing and infrastructure, disruption of basic services, and long-term livelihood losses, particularly in remote mountainous communities.
The Moroccan Red Crescent (MRC), with the support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Partner National Societies (PNSs), has been leading a comprehensive emergency and early recovery response combining immediate relief with longer-term recovery and resilience-building interventions. Since mid 2024, the operation has transitioned from emergency response towards early recovery, with Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL) identified as a priority sector.
According to multi-sectoral assessments conducted in 2025, including the September 2025 Multi-Sector Needs Assessment and field evaluations carried out by CRM/IFRC FSL teams, agricultural production capacities have been severely weakened by the earthquake. Only 6–7% of households in the provinces of Taroudant, El Haouz and Chichaoua report any own food production, indicating significant structural constraints to agricultural recovery. As a result, households remain highly dependent on food purchases, often through credit, exacerbating food insecurity and economic vulnerability.
The earthquake also significantly disrupted income sources. Approximately 27% of households report having no income post-earthquake, while others rely mainly on informal daily labour, with reduced opportunities in agriculture. Average monthly household income decreased by around 30% (from approximately 1,200 MAD pre-earthquake to 850 MAD post-earthquake). Rising debt levels, negative coping strategies, and high Livelihood Coping Strategy Index (L CSI) scores, particularly in Taroudant province, highlight an erosion of household resilience.
In this context, strengthening local agricultural production and diversifying livelihoods are essential to improve food security and support sustainable economic recovery. Beekeeping (apiculture) represents a promising livelihood option in the affected provinces due to its relatively low land requirements, adaptability to mountainous environments, potential for income generation, and contribution to ecosystem services. However, targeted, context-specific interventions are required to ensure technical feasibility, sustainability, and equitable access.
The consultancy aims to provide technical support to MRC and IFRC to assess the feasibility of apiculture interventions, establish beneficiary selection mechanisms for 30 beekeepers, and develop and implement capacity-building activities for targeted households under the earthquake recovery operation.
Job details: Consultancy in beekeeping activities