Akhannouch highlights territorial disparities program as catalyst for social inclusion

Wednesday 26 November 2025 - 11:30

By: Sahili Aya

Akhannouch highlights territorial disparities program as catalyst for social inclusion

Morocco’s Territorial Disparities Reduction Program is not just a technical initiative but a model of governance aimed at addressing inequalities built up over decades, Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch told the House of Councillors on Tuesday.

Speaking in response to questions on territorial development and spatial justice, Akhannouch stressed that the program targets rural and mountainous areas with rehabilitation projects designed to boost social inclusion, diversify opportunities, and improve access to training and employment for rural women.

On the issue of connectivity, the Prime Minister highlighted that 26,509 kilometers of rural roads and tracks have been constructed or maintained, alongside 223 engineering structures built or rebuilt. This has increased the number of municipalities with good road access from 791 in 2016 to 1,104 in 2023, a 40% rise.

In terms of drinking water, the program has achieved 32,000 individual and mixed connections, built new fountains, and installed 725 water supply systems. Network extensions covering approximately 1,000 kilometers have increased municipalities with reliable access to water from 710 in 2016 to 859 in 2023, a 20% growth.

Rural electrification has reached 1,135 douars and expanded the network by 1,137 kilometers. The number of municipalities with electricity access rose from 627 in 2016 to 831 in 2023, up 32%.

Education projects include 4,142 constructions or reconstructions of schools, the acquisition of 1,508 school buses, and 139 equipment projects. As a result, municipalities offering quality educational services increased from 614 in 2016 to 773 in 2023, a 13% improvement.

Health services have benefited from 987 construction, reconstruction, and rehabilitation projects, 884 equipment operations, and 820 new ambulances. Municipalities with adequate health services rose from 480 in 2016 to 721 in 2023, marking a 19% increase.

Concluding, Akhannouch emphasized that these efforts represent a “genuine qualitative leap” in territorial development. Municipalities with access to all basic services have grown from 502 in 2016 to 743 today, a 48% increase.