In June 2026, the FRESH project brought its partners together for two complementary visits: a study trip to the Green & Smart Building Park in Benguerir and a field visit to Béni Mellal with the French Development Agency (AFD). The aim was to share lessons learned about energy-efficient renovation solutions adapted to hot climates and showcase the project’s achievements.

In Benguerir, Exploring Solutions for Sustainable Buildings

On 9 June 2026, the Geres teams in Morocco and their local partners – the Anajaa Taqia Cooperative (CAT) in Tata and the Association of Life and Earth Sciences Teachers (AESVT) – visited the Green & Smart Building Park at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Benguerir.

The visit provided an opportunity to discover research and innovation activities in the fields of energy efficiency, sustainable buildings and innovative construction materials.

Managed by UM6P and IRESEN – Research Institute for Solar Energy and New Energies, the Green & Smart Building Park is an applied research platform dedicated to sustainable buildings.

Discussions notably focused on earth-based construction materials, bio-based insulation made from plant fibres, phase-change materials that improve buildings’ thermal inertia, and the recovery and reuse of construction waste.

Participants also visited several experimental houses built as part of the Solar Decathlon Africa, an international competition focused on designing sustainable, energy-efficient buildings adapted to the African context. These pilot buildings make it possible to assess the thermal and energy performance of innovative construction solutions under real-life conditions.

The study trip helped strengthen the project partners’ knowledge and inform discussions on solutions adapted to Morocco’s different climate contexts.

In Béni Mellal, Project Achievements at the Heart of Discussions with AFD

On 15 June 2026, a delegation bringing together representatives from the French Development Agency (AFD), the financial partner of the FRESH project, Geres teams and AESVT visited the El Massira neighbourhood in Béni Mellal.

The visit provided an opportunity to see five pilot homes renovated as part of the project and to speak directly with beneficiary households.

These five homes are among the eight pilot homes renovated in Béni Mellal and Tata as part of the FRESH project.

The delegation was introduced to the different solutions implemented to improve thermal comfort and strengthen the resilience of homes to extreme heat, as well as the cooling equipment provided to households.

All five beneficiaries are women. They welcomed the delegation into their homes and shared their experiences. Their feedback highlighted the positive effects of the interventions on their thermal comfort and, more broadly, on their living conditions.

By bringing together project partners and beneficiaries, these two visits provided valuable opportunities for dialogue and knowledge sharing. They reflect a shared objective: developing energy-efficient renovation solutions adapted to local realities and hot climates.