10 Things Worth Knowing About the World Bank in Morocco

1. The World Bank aims at promoting human development, the reduction of the vulnerability of the poor in Morocco, and their inclusion

The World Bank focuses its action on four areas having priority as identified by Moroccan government. These are: Education, economic growth, employment and housing.

World bank program focuses on the reduction of poverty through inclusion and involvement, by reducing discrepancies between urban and rural areas and encouraging social development.

2. The World Bank contributes to upgrade conditions of economic development and private sector development

Morocco is requested to implement strong efforts to ensure an improved competitiveness in the private sector and a better business environment. The World Bank is paying special attention to the establishment of a consensus around an action framework. The focus is on the development and support to be provided to small and middle size enterprises and on the sectors of services (activities in connection with information technologies notably), which are closely related to urban poverty and unemployment. The bank intervenes directly only in the field of enterprises rehabilitation, which is already benefiting from EU support.

3. The World Bank accompanies Morocco in the public governance improvement process

Governance includes a large number of delicate issues ranging from decentralization and de-concentration, to budgetary management and public administration reform aiming at promoting a rational and clear recruitment of civil servants. In this context; the bank focuses basically on strengthening institutional capacities, though it  supports the reform in the field of public administration in order to improve its productivity and ensure sustainability, viability and effectiveness in public expenditure. A proposed public administration reform adjustment loan of a US $ 100 million was approved in July 2004.

The bank carried out also reviews designed to improve budgetary procedures and make the accountancy system be in compliance with international public standards.

4. The World Bank plays an important role in the strengthening of Moroccan legal and judicial framework

Based on the dialogue between Moroccan government and the world bank in this field, the focus is on: (i) setting in place a legal and regulatory environment which would be favorable to business; (ii) strengthening the capacity of the legal and judiciary profession through training and specialization; (iii) improving case management and the administration of justice, in terms of business law notably, and (iv) promoting the access to judiciary and legal information.

In that respect, the bank in financing a legal and judiciary development project comprising the establishment of a network of specialized trade courts, the promotion of substitution mechanisms for controversies settlement, the improvement of sentences enforcement, the strengthening of training as well as the implementation of incentives for magistracy staff and the dissemination of legal-related information to the large public.

5. The World Bank supports the reform of educational sector in Morocco

Reforming education remains a key topic in world bank/Morocco cooperation. It deals with basic education, non-formal education in addition to higher education and vocational training. The World Bank supports morocco in the implementation of the National Charter for Education and in the improvement of the quality of education.

As an example, and within the framework of social priorities program, the world bank financed in Morocco, a project totaling US $ 46 million to support basic education.

Such project enabled the underprivileged sections of the population to have access to literacy and schooling. Another project related to adults’ literacy (Alpha Maroc) was launched in September 2002 and shall be carried on up to July 30, 2006.

Another project under preparation deals with the support to the reform in basic education.

6. The World Bank helps morocco carry on the support to rural basic infrastructure programs

Infrastructure contributes significantly to the opening up of deprived communities and accounts for a valuable share in the World Bank efforts aiming at attaining the development objectives of the millennium. In Morocco, the World Bank is still supporting rural infrastructure programs (roads, potable water and electricity) depending on needs. The World Bank financed in Morocco, a rural roads project which made it possible to rise girls enrollment ratio from 28% up to 68% Another loan related to rural roads. PO 827574, totaling US $ 54 million has been approved in July 2004.

7. The World Bank supports Morocco in the establishment and implementation of agricultural strategy

The World Bank supports the government in the implementation of its “Rural development strategy 2020” through the funding of three projects related to rural integrated development. These are the integrated rural development project focusing on small and middle size hydraulics, the integrated rural development project for the development of “Bour” areas and the integrated rural development project for forest and peri-forest areas.

Besides, the world bank carries on its support to large-scale sector programs for rural development such as the national program for rural roads and the drinking water and sanitation project in rural areas (pager), through projects and programmatic sector reviews.

8. The World Bank contributes to the preservation of natural resources and environment in Morocco

Morocco conceals huge national resources. However major environmental issues emerge, dealing more specifically with water shortage. Based on 1995 water sector review and on its experience in the field of irrigated perimeters, the bank is preparing a study on water management and means to address situations of draught. The world bank supported Moroccan government in the implementation of the law 10/95 on water through the water resources management project whose objectives are: an improved water resources planning and the strengthening of basin agencies.

Furthermore, the World Bank provides its support to several environmental projects in Morocco, through the World Fund for Environment. Within this framework, the world bank is financing a project totaling US $ 10.5 million to improve ecosystems preservation and species protection, contributing at the same time at the setting up of a protected areas system.

9. The World Bank supports Morocco in the promotion of information infrastructure

The bank played a key role in the support to Moroccan government in the process of the liberalization of the telecommunication and information technologies sectors, initiated in 1999. the world bank in still accompanying this sector through an adjustment loan aiming at providing a support to reforms in terms of information technologies. This operation aimed basically at : (i) supporting the privatization of the main public operator ; (ii) strengthening regulatory framework ; and (iii) setting up a distribution process of profits generated by sector reforms towards micro-economic applications in the field of information technologies and postal services.

10. The World Bank undertakes to support all efforts aiming at the improvement of living conditions of Moroccans and at the construction of a thriving “Morocco”

Morocco became member of the World Bank group in 1958. Since, then World Bank commitments reached US $ 7.5 billion approximately. The bank played an important part in the support to economic reforms and private sector development.

It also supported Morocco in the field of social development through social protection, education and health programs along with actions designed to strengthen social services and basic infrastructure in rural areas.

Today the World Bank is financing 15 development projects and live others are under preparation.

The bank has also worked out a set of sector reviews dealing, inter alias, with poverty, governance, and investment environment in Morocco.

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Also see:

	What is the World Bank? A brief summary of the various functions, its organization, and channels of representation
	How You Can Get Involved/Contact Us Opportunities to learn more about the various ways citizens can become more involved