The Challenge of Performance in Socio-Economic Development for the regions of Morocco

Despite making tremendous progress in improving its human development metrics, Morocco still faces substantial problems, particularly in rural areas. Inter and intra-regional economic imbalances, high rates of youth unemployment, low literacy, gender inequality, and a deep-seated education crises beset Morocco’s twelve regions (including MS). More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated economic inequities across Morocco, particularly in vulnerable areas. These differences have the potential to aggravate dissatisfaction among Moroccans who are most in need of assistance. In addition, MS is experiencing increasing water shortages in a region that is already overly reliant on agriculture and tourism for its survival.

King Mohammed VI noted in his 2019 Throne Day speech that Morocco’s “achievements have not been [equally] felt by all segments of Moroccan society.” Inequalities are being tolerated less, individuals are becoming more aware of their rights, and citizens are increasingly expressing their demands and expectations, particularly through rallies and social media. Morocco’s government has implemented a number of initiatives and measures aimed at combating poverty and social exclusion, as well as reducing inequalities in access to basic services and addressing regional imbalances. Some of these initiatives are sector-specific and targeted at a specific segment of the population (e.g., the Assistance Medical Plan [RAMED], which was created to help poor and vulnerable families; Moukawalati, which was created to help young entrepreneurs, and so on), while others, such as the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH) and the advanced regionalisation plan, are more broad-based.

Despite great advances, certain types of inequity continue to have a negative impact on Morocco’s social cohesiveness. Citizens’ dissatisfaction in recent years has been linked to high unemployment rates, ineffective education, unmet expectations of government reforms including the advanced regionalisation project.

To enhance performance of the regions, decision makers should:

Adopt a visionary, holistic, inclusive approach in the design, the implementation and the evaluation of the regional policies including the regional programs for development and the annual budgets;

Establish a project management framework and a monitoring, evaluation and learning system to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of the regional programs for development and the annual budgets;

Adopt a regular reporting system that ensures the right for access to information and accountability.

Implement a capacity building plan including human ressources training.

TALM, the consulting company based in Morocco that worked with the regions is capable of turning the regions’ wishes for inclusive development into facts.