OECD: No «explicit» urban policy in Morocco
Morocco has experienced rapid urban growth in recent decades. This has led to advances in human development, thanks to a number of proactive policies that have contributed to a marked improvement in living conditions in cities, such as the cities without slums policy. However, the economic development of Moroccan cities faces a number of obstacles. This is revealed by the OECD in its «Review of Morocco’s national urban policy».
First and foremost, the OECD cites the «difficulty of access to land, as well as weaknesses in land management». These «constitute a major brake on public and private investment and hinder the economic development of Moroccan cities». The lack of «efficient transport, communication, and logistics infrastructure, particularly between cities and their outskirts, as well as congestion problems and high transport costs, hamper the mobility of goods, services and workers, thus reducing the attractiveness of cities and limiting the potential benefits of agglomeration economies», notes the study.
The strong presence of the informal sector (which accounts for almost 40% of jobs, excluding agriculture) is another factor holding back the attractiveness of cities to investment.
For the OECD, Moroccan cities face increasing climatic and natural risks, particularly in terms of drought and flooding. These risks are accentuated by a number of vulnerability factors, such as the «coastalization of urbanization and the persistence of substandard housing». Morocco also faces governance challenges that «hamper compact, sustainable, and resilient urban development». In addition, some projects are «based on land opportunities rather than rational land use, leading to urban sprawl». According to the OECD, «funding for urban development in Morocco remains insufficient to meet the growing needs of urbanization».
Despite a strong political will that has been emerging for several years, Morocco «does not currently have an explicit national urban policy», summarizes the study.
Such an urban policy is defined by OECD/UN Habitat/UNOPS as a formally worded and identified policy based on a coherent set of decisions made through a deliberate process led by the Government. It aims to coordinate and mobilize diverse actors around a common vision and purpose, which promotes more transformative, productive, inclusive, and resilient urban development over the long term.
Fatim-Zahra TOHRY
