Akhannouch: The Rural Disparities Reduction Program has achieved the majority of its territorial targeting objectives

The action plans of the program targeted 1,066 local authorities and 142 rural centers for the benefit of 14 million inhabitants of the rural population, as well as 59 urban municipalities experiencing regular flows of this population, explained Mr. Akhannouch in response to a central question on “the green Morocco plan, the challenges of rural development and territorial justice”, during the monthly session devoted to general policy.

The projects carried out have contributed significantly to improving the standard of living of the inhabitants of the beneficiary municipalities, in the sense that the spatial situation of a large number of municipalities classified as priorities 1, 2 and 3 in 2016 (local authorities isolated areas that lack basic social services and need significant investment to fill the gap in more than one sector) has been improved, he added. Mr. Akhannouch also underlined that these projects enabled the integration of 128 municipalities registered in this category in 2017, among the municipalities classified in priorities 4, 5 and 6 (the municipalities which have the minimum of basic social services), according to the index of accessibility to basic services. A total of 224 municipalities classified as priorities 1, 2 and 3 in 2016 moved to priorities 5 and 6 in 2021, bringing the total of this category to 725 municipalities against 502 in 2016, i.e. a 44% increase in the number of municipalities with of all basic services, he continued.

“The general policy of the State under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, which goes beyond government and electoral time, has made possible several gains for the benefit of the rural world, in particular since the launch by the Sovereign of the 1st phase of the program to reduce territorial and social disparities in 2017 ”, supported Mr. Akhannouch, specifying that “five annual action plans have been launched particularly for the development of rural areas and mountainous areas with an estimated budget of 35 billion DH, or 70% of the budget programmed until 2023”.

“The Fund for Rural Development and Mountain Areas (FDRZM) was the stone corner of this Royal program, since it has become a main mechanism and a financial base for the realization of the integrated approach to rural development, thus representing a lever which does not replace sectoral and regional budgets but which takes place in the service of convergence and integration “, he said.

The head of government then noted that until the beginning of the In the current year, 8,137 projects have been launched at the level of local authorities in rural areas, including 7,066 infrastructure projects and 1,071 vehicle acquisition operations (ambulances, mobile units, school buses) and medical and school equipment. Also, 5,261 development projects linked to the fight against territorial and social inequalities were completed at the end of 2021.