Background The Moulouya oued river drainage system is located in Northeastern Morocco. Its source is in the High Atlas mountains, and it runs a course of more than 600 kilometers through an arid/semi-arid climactic region before ending in the Mediterranean, not far from the Nador Lagoon. It is the region's only natural source of water and is an important asset in terms of water resources and bio-diversity. Numerous factors have a negative impact on the river basin's fragile eco-system, including the uncontrolled dumping of domestic waste, agricultural pollution, effluent from mining sites, and erosion due to reduced land cover. Objectives The overall objective of this project was to contribute to the sustainable protection of the river basin of the Moulouya river by reducing the sources of domestic and mineral pollution and reinforcing institutional capacity to monitor and manage the environment at a regional level. The specific objectives of the project were to: - Draw-up a diagnosis of the Moulouya river basin; - Reduce the environmental pressures on the river basin by suggesting innovative solutions aiming to enhance the management of domestic wastes and wastewater, reduce the impact of mineral and wastewater effluent by reducing the pollution generated by old mining sites, and to improve agricultural practices; and - Support the construction of a regional observatory of the Moulouya river basin to develop better environmental governance. Results The project was very ambitious in terms of the results expected in a relatively short timeframe, and therefore did not succeed in achieving all of its objectives by the end of 2005. Specifically, proposals for a regional observatory and a wastewater treatment plant in the Missour municipality could not be implemented, the latter due to strong opposition from the local population. It seems that the beneficiary underestimated the impact of local opinion, demonstrating the importance of awareness raising at the early stages of such projects. Nevertheless, the project achieved a number of positive results, which establish a sound basis for future actions. - The scientific studies (environmental assessment at the river basin level, comparative analysis of grenhouse gases in four municipalities, study on mine pollution, ...) improve the global knowledge of the river basin, its biodiversity and external pressures on its ecosystem; - A multidisciplinary team, involving scientists and municipal technicians developed a data gathering system (GIS), the database of which will be regularly updated, and monitoring indicators, to be used for the evaluation of future protection measures; - The project contributed to the integration of institutional mechanisms by organising a workshop bringing together a wide range of stakholders involved in the Moulouya river basin management. These stakeholders discussed a strategy to protect the water resources and biodiversity, and created a framework for improved institutional coordination, based on the idea of a Regional Observatory. In the future, the Agency for the Moulouya Hydrographic Basin (ABHM) will become the interface for coordinating the actions of others activities impacting on the river basin; - In Missour, a domestic waste-treatment plant was developed. This experience could be transferred to other municipalities in terms of methodology and technical expertise for integrated waste management. The project contributed to instigating a partnership approach among the diverse stakeholders involved in the river basin resources management. The beneficiary is now planning a second phase for the project, which should focus more on the operational dimension.