Morocco has made 'remarkable progress' in human development, UNDP says

By Safae El Yaaqoubi   

 "There is a strong political will at the highest level to address the challenge of human development," Moliner said in an interview with MAP, adding that these efforts encourage several development partners to engage in more coordinated cooperation with Morocco.

    The UN official, who expressed optimism about the prospects of development in Morocco, recalled the pioneering "ART GOLD" project, which aims to reinforce national strategies in the field of local development and governance through the harmonization of the actions of international players within decentralized cooperation throughout Moroccan regions.

    "The added value of this approach is to enable local development actors to have access to resources and know-how of the UNDP," she said, confirming the readiness of the UN program to accompany Morocco's efforts in the field.

    For the UNDP official, Morocco is an active actor in south-south cooperation and actively contributes to new development programs mainly in Senegal and Mauritania.

    Moliner said the decentralized approach of development supported by the UNDP in Morocco is an “exemplary and efficient model,” which would be proposed to sub-Saharan countries. “The Kingdom of Morocco which has a long and strong tradition of cooperation with sub-Saharan countries will be certainly solicited.”

    Molinier also stressed the importance the 5th Africities Summit, held in Marrakech (December 16-20), saying that it is an occasion to be in touch with development partners and determine the need of the African continent.

    The traditional modes of development have proved inefficient, she said, adding that there is a need to rethink policies of local development within a new form of “multilateralism.”