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Morocco's Public Sector Set for Transformation with World Bank's $600 Million Boost
In a significant move to enhance public services and modernize governance, Morocco has secured a $600 million loan from the World Bank. This substantial financial injection, divided into two distinct programs, aims to revolutionize the country's public sector and state-owned enterprises (SOEs).
The first program, "Supporting the Implementation of SOE Reform in Morocco," commands $350 million of the total package. Its primary focus is on overhauling the governance, restructuring, and performance monitoring of SOEs. This initiative seeks to fortify the state's ownership functions, elevate SOE management practices, and establish a framework for fair competition. Notably, the program also emphasizes monitoring climate impacts, aligning with global sustainability trends.
Complementing this, the second program, "Public Sector Performance," receives $250 million. This project is geared towards bolstering the Moroccan government's ongoing efforts to enhance performance and transparency. It places a strong emphasis on modernizing public administration through digitization and reforms in public financial management.
Jesko Hentschel, Country Director for the Maghreb and Malta at the World Bank, elucidated the overarching goal of these projects: "to enhance the performance of the public sector and elevate the quality of public services delivered to Moroccan citizens." He further noted that these initiatives are in harmony with Morocco's New Development Model, which advocates for a paradigm shift towards inclusive, private-sector-led growth.
The World Bank's statement highlighted its role in supporting the Moroccan government during the initial stages and implementation of SOE reform. This support has been result-oriented, focusing on strengthening the reform implementation capacity of key agencies, including the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the newly established state ownership agency.
Already, these efforts have yielded tangible results. Women's representation on SOE boards of directors has surged from virtually none to 30%. The private sector now enjoys a more competitive landscape, and climate reporting has been integrated into SOE practices.
Hentschel emphasized the significance of SOE reform in Morocco's national agenda, referencing the recent Council of Ministers chaired by His Majesty King Mohammed VI on June 1. "With a vision of a prosperous Morocco, the aim is to reconfigure the public portfolio, improve its performance, and carry out reforms to ensure accessible, high-quality public services to the people," he stated.
The impact of these initiatives is already evident. After nearly two years of implementation, the initial ENNAJAA program has shown promising results. There has been a notable increase of almost 7% in additional tax revenues through improved compliance at the national level. At the subnational level, the ten largest municipalities have experienced a substantial 22% increase in collected revenues.
As Morocco embarks on this ambitious journey of public sector transformation, the World Bank's financial and technical support promises to be a catalyst for change. The focus on enhancing governance, improving service delivery, and fostering inclusive growth positions Morocco at the forefront of public sector reform in the region. The coming years will likely see a more efficient, transparent, and citizen-centric public sector emerge in the North African nation.