World Bank Approves $300 Million Loan to Boost Moroccan Urban Development

This loan comes to support Morocco in its efforts to improve urban services and transform agglomerations into engines of growth and job creation.

Over a five-year period (2019 to 2024), this project will target about a hundred of the country’s largest municipalities, which are home to 80% of the urban population and half of the country’s population, the World Bank said in a statement.

This financial aid "will also target major gaps in terms of the efficiency of municipalities in order to promote a transparent, efficient and accountable urban management system capable of driving sustainable local development and strengthening the attractiveness of Moroccan cities," said Jesko Henschel, Director of Operations for the Maghreb at the World Bank.

In addition, the project will help the Ministry of the Interior to carry out an ambitious annual assessment of the performance of municipalities, allowing real-time communication of information on the lack of capacities at the municipal level and to address these shortcomings through appropriate technical assistance and training services.