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Morocco's Social Housing Endeavor: 698,000 Units Delivered, Paving the Way for Decent Living

Tuesday 04 June 2024 - 11:20

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In a remarkable stride towards addressing Morocco's housing challenges, the Minister of National Territorial Planning, Urban Planning, Housing, and City Policy, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, revealed that a staggering 698,000 housing units have been delivered under the Social Housing Program, priced at 250,000 dirhams, as of March 2024.

Speaking before the House of Representatives on Monday, El Mansouri provided comprehensive insights into the government's ambitious housing initiatives, designed to ensure decent living conditions for underprivileged segments of society.

The Al Omrane Group, a key player in Morocco's housing sector, has spearheaded the construction of nearly 88,000 units, accounting for a substantial 13% of the total units delivered. Furthermore, an additional 20,143 units are currently under construction, while 300 completed units await delivery.

Addressing the affordable housing segment, priced at 140,000 dirhams, the minister revealed that the Al Omrane Group has successfully delivered 48,000 units to date. Moreover, 9,000 units are currently in the construction phase, and 1,657 completed units are poised for imminent delivery.

El Mansouri candidly acknowledged the delays encountered in the realization of certain housing projects, attributing them primarily to land tenure challenges. However, she affirmed that the ministry and the Al Omrane Group have mobilized partners at both national and territorial levels to accelerate the land tenure regularization process and create individual land titles. Additionally, a new commercial policy has been adopted, facilitated by an electronic platform.

The minister underscored the profound impact of the housing programs launched under the auspices of the Royal Initiatives over the past two decades, enabling 4,250,000 low-income citizens to secure decent housing accommodations.

Addressing another query concerning the fate of delayed projects within territorial communities, El Mansouri disclosed that 300 conventions have been ratified since the inception of the city policy in 2015, with 190 signed during the 2015-2021 period and an additional 110 conventions finalized under the current government mandate.

The ministry has allocated a substantial financial envelope worth 14.8 billion dirhams to support these initiatives, with 9.8 billion dirhams allocated during the 2015-2021 period and a further 5 billion dirhams earmarked for the 2021-2024 period. Notably, one-third of the financial commitments and two-thirds of the disbursements have been executed under the current government tenure, underscoring the accelerated pace of project implementation.

According to the minister, the execution of works outlined in 83 conventions has been completed during the 2015-2024 timeframe, with 57% of these projects concentrated in rural areas, at a total cost exceeding 3.6 billion dirhams, of which the ministry's contribution stood at 2.3 billion dirhams.

These conventions encompass the rehabilitation of over 170 underdeveloped neighborhoods, the creation and equipping of proximate land plots, and the construction of cultural and social facilities. Concerning the remaining 197 conventions, the implementation rate is estimated at 50%, with 20 conventions experiencing disruptions in their execution pace, primarily due to delays in liquid sanitation works.

As Morocco strives to address the housing crisis and provide its citizens with dignified living conditions, the Social Housing Program stands as a beacon of hope, fostering inclusive development and ensuring that no segment of society is left behind in the pursuit of a decent abode.