Closing of the Senegalese-Moroccan Decentralization Conference in Dakar

by times news cr

2024-07-11 18:54:22

The strong Moroccan delegation, led by the Governor in charge of the Cooperation and Documentation division, within the Ministry of the Interior, Abdelouhhab El Jabri, is composed of elected officials and representatives of the Territorial Communities of Morocco, Representatives of the Ministry of the Interior, the INDH, the CDG, the FEC, the Moroccan Association of Presidents of Communal Councils (AMPCC), and the Association of Regions of Morocco (ARM).

For two days, Moroccan and Senegalese elected officials and experts shared experiences of good local practices, resulting in a series of recommendations.

For Morocco, indicates the Report published at the close of these Conferences, this involves the revision of the Organic Laws relating to Territorial Communities as recommended by other constitutional institutions (CESE, Court of Auditors, Chamber of Advisors), the acceleration of the implementation of the decentralization project, and the improvement of the financial resources of Territorial Communities.

The report also discusses investment in human capital (elected officials and civil servants), the coherence of regional development strategies, and the in-depth clarification of the missions and skills of local stakeholders.

Concerning the financing of projects of local authorities and concerning the African Fund for Support to Decentralized Cooperation (FACDI), it was recommended to create a joint Fund which concerns the Moroccan and Senegalese Local Authorities.

Concerning the financing mechanisms of Communities in Morocco, the representative of the Communal Equipment Fund FEC reviewed in his presentation the missions and the contribution of the FEC to communal development, the governance, the methods of intervention and some figures on the financing of Communities by the FEC.

Regarding the territorialization of public policies, the representative of the Caisse de Dépôt et Gestion explained the role of the CDG in this area.

As for household waste management, the report states that the representative of the General Directorate of Local Authorities (DGCT) reviewed the strengths and weaknesses of the waste management sector (regulatory and institutional framework, the involvement of different partners: Ministry of the Interior, Department of the Environment, the region, province, CN-PNDM, UGP), the publication of Law 28-00, the improvement of the financial sustainability of the sector and the commitment of the State via the financial sustainability of local authorities in the implementation of their projects.

Concerning a local case of waste management, the representative of the Municipality of Tangier specified in particular that the waste of the city of Tangier can be recovered via four possible routes: recycling, energy recovery in the form of Solid Recovery Fuels, composting, a simple technique for all biodegradable waste, the majority of our waste, and Bio-methanization which allows for dual recovery, material and energy.

The speaker confirmed that a combination of the first three modes will be ideal for efficient exploitation of the waste deposit of the city of Tangier and that biological treatments remain advantageous, according to the document, it is emphasized in this report.

Regarding the INDH, the representative of the Ministry of the Interior reviewed Morocco’s experience in human development.

As for urban mobility, the case of Casablanca, it was presented by the vice-president of the Municipality of Casablanca, who concluded that urban transport in the economic capital is constantly evolving to meet the needs of a growing population and that sustainable projects and initiatives are essential to ensure sustainable and environmentally friendly mobility, according to the report.

The speaker said that congestion in the sector remains a challenge and there is a need for intelligent and anticipatory planning to maintain traffic flow.

Concerning digitalization, the innovative case of the municipality of Berkane was presented during these meetings. Similarly, the experience of the Geo Park of Béni Mellal was presented during a plenary session by a representative of the Region of Béni Mellal.

During these meetings, the experience of Open Governments was presented by a representative of the Ministry of the Interior.

The meeting, held under the theme: “Together, local authorities are paving the way for decentralized South-South cooperation marked by innovation and progress”, was marked by the signing on Tuesday of around thirty framework agreements between the municipalities of Senegal and Morocco, including two with the regional council of Laâyoune Sakia-El Hamra, with the Kaffrine municipality and between the municipal council of Mijek and the municipality of Sagatta Gueth.

The purpose of these framework agreements is to establish a space and a platform favorable to the development of decentralized cooperation actions by establishing lasting relationships between the signatories.

Under these agreements, the signatory communities undertake to promote consultation, co-financing, monitoring and evaluation of the actions undertaken, to develop exchanges of experiences, knowledge and know-how and to promote the skills and specificities of each.

The event was also marked by the signing, on Monday during the opening ceremony, of a Protocol of Intent for Cooperation and Partnership between the AMPCC and the AMS.

The Conference closed on Tuesday evening with the reading of the “Dakar Declaration”, in which the participants recommended in particular the institutionalization of these meetings “through a periodicity integrated into the Agendas of the organizations of the territorial communities and the ministries in charge of decentralization of the two countries”.

They also recommend “the establishment of a joint fund for Senegalese-Moroccan decentralized cooperation and the strengthening of cooperation and territorial diplomacy actions between local authorities of the two countries.”

In this Declaration, the participants also recommend the establishment of a bilateral Commission responsible for monitoring the recommendations of these meetings.

2024-07-11 18:54:22

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