Public sector: World Bank support

600 million US dollars is the funding approved by the World Bank’s Board of Directors. It is earmarked for two projects aimed at improving public sector performance, as well as the inclusiveness and quality of public services. The first program supports the implementation of the reform of State-owned Enterprises (SOEs) and public agencies in Morocco (financing of $350 million).

It aims to improve the governance, the restructuring, the competitive neutrality, and the performance monitoring of State-owned Enterprises. To achieve this, the program will support the strengthening of the Government’s shareholding functions, the improvement of governance, and management practices in the SOEs, the monitoring and tracking of performance (including climate impacts), and the establishment of a framework to ensure fair competition.

Additional funding (of $250 million) for the Moroccan Public Sector Performance Program (Ennajaa) will continue to support the Government’s efforts to improve performance and transparency, focusing on modernizing public administration.

«The overriding objective of these two projects is to improve public sector performance and the quality of public services delivered to Moroccan citizens, in line with Morocco’s new development model, which emphasizes the need for a paradigm shift to foster inclusive growth and greater private sector participation», said Jesko Hentschel, Country Director for Maghreb and Malta at the World Bank. This institution will support the Moroccan government right from the initial phases of the SOEs reform.

The results targeted by the program include a significant increase in the representation of independent members on the boards of directors of SOEs, as well as a rise in the representation of women from a low level to 30%. The other challenge is to establish a competitive framework conducive to private investment and climate impact reporting. «The reform of SOEs is a priority for Morocco, as emphasized at the last Council of Ministers chaired by His Majesty King Mohammed VI on June 1. With a view to national prosperity, the aim is to restructure the public portfolio, improve its performance and carry out reforms to offer the population affordable and high-quality services», added Jesko Hentschel.

Fatim-Zahra TOHRY