A New Direction for Public Policy in Morocco
The recent Cabinet meeting held on April 9th in Rabat, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, has ushered in a significant shift in Morocco's public policy framework, focusing on the implementation of a new generation of integrated territorial development programs. This innovative approach, which emphasizes local diagnostics and citizen participation, aims to structurally reduce spatial inequalities while enhancing coherence across various levels of intervention and directing public action towards having a direct impact on the population's living conditions.
In this context, Marruecom engaged in a dialogue with Mounir Oukhlifa, a Business Law professor at the Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University in Fez, who examined the scope of these programs, highlighting their structural dimensions, impacts on territorial governance, and the mechanisms designed to ensure their effectiveness.
Transforming Territorial Development Policies
When asked how this new model of territorial development programs, grounded in local diagnostics and citizen engagement, represents a departure from previous policies aimed at reducing territorial inequalities in Morocco, Oukhlifa noted that it is more accurate to describe it as an evolution rather than a complete break. He emphasized that this new vision, propelled from the highest levels, has transitioned from a sectoral, vertical approach to one that prioritizes integration.
This new model does not undermine the achievements of past programs, such as the National Initiative for Human Development or the initiative aimed at reducing territorial inequalities. Instead, it seeks to rectify their limitations, particularly in terms of coordination. Previously, the focus was on quantity and infrastructure creation to reduce isolation; today, the emphasis is on quality, facilitated by participatory diagnostics that ensure projects align with the real needs of the population rather than centralized decisions. Essentially, this marks a profound shift in the development paradigm, positioning the territory as a central actor.
As Morocco navigates a model that articulates local, regional, and national levels, concerns about overlapping competencies arise. However, Oukhlifa assures that Morocco has identified the contracting mechanism as an effective institutional solution to prevent such overlaps. There is now a clear distribution of functions: the state retains its strategic role as the guarantor of major balances, regions take on planning and programming responsibilities, and local authorities manage proximity services. Rather than presenting a challenge, this articulation ensures coherence between major projects and local needs. Moreover, tools such as unified regional investment commissions and program contracts facilitate a genuine partnership between the center and the territory. Thus, effectiveness is measured not solely by the speed of execution but by the capacity to integrate local dimensions within a national vision.
With a planned investment of 210 billion dirhams over eight years, the question arises about the mechanisms that will translate this effort into tangible reductions in territorial inequalities and the creation of sustainable employment. Oukhlifa asserts that the scale of this investment necessitates a shift in approach: the focus must be not only on where investments will occur but also on how they will translate into concrete improvements for citizens. The key lies in enhancing local productive chains and transitioning from a focus on infrastructure construction to one centered on economic and human development. For instance, a rural road is no longer seen as an end in itself but as a means to connect agricultural or tourism production to markets. Effectiveness hinges on linking these investments to territorial economic ecosystems capable of generating local employment, particularly for youth, thus mitigating urban migration.
Additionally, the introduction of monitoring indicators is crucial for evaluating the social impact of investments, measuring job creation and improvements in vulnerability levels rather than merely assessing budget execution rates. Key mechanisms include support for local cooperatives and SMEs, directing investments according to precise poverty maps, and tying financing to concrete results.
The establishment of joint-stock companies to replace regional project execution agencies raises the question of whether this can enhance effectiveness, transparency, and accountability in public management. Oukhlifa believes this shift represents one of the most significant innovations in Morocco's public management landscape, addressing demands for speed and transparency while overcoming the limitations of traditional administrative models. The adoption of the joint-stock company model enables the introduction of private sector tools, allowing for greater flexibility in decision-making, precision in contracting, and the ability to attract qualified talent. Simultaneously, it strengthens the principle of accountability, as these entities are subject to oversight by boards of directors and regular audits, with results reflected in transparent financial and technical reports. This transformation can be seen as an internal modernization process of the state, making the administration a nimble actor capable of supporting Morocco's ambitions through 2030 and beyond. It signifies a profound transformation towards the modernization of public management, where these regional companies provide flexibility and speed through the application of private law facilitating contracting and execution, while also ensuring transparency and control through strict auditing mechanisms and boards of directors evaluating performance and quality.
As reported by marruecom.com.
