Morocco and France have approved a new round of decentralised cooperation projects worth about US$2.6 million, reinforcing a long-running partnership aimed at strengthening local governance and development in both countries.
The funding 26.4 million dirhams (US$2.6 million) will support 15 projects led by local and regional authorities under the Franco-Moroccan Joint Fund for Decentralised Cooperation, officials said following a steering committee meeting in Rabat on Tuesday.
The meeting was co-chaired by representatives of Morocco’s interior ministry, through the Directorate General of Territorial Communities, and France’s Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, which oversees cooperation with local authorities and civil society.
Senior officials in attendance included Morocco’s Wali and Director General of Territorial Communities, Jelloul Samsseme, and France’s ambassador to Morocco, Christophe Lecourtier.
Local focus
The approved initiatives are designed to strengthen ties between Moroccan and French municipalities, regions and public institutions, with an emphasis on practical solutions tailored to local needs.
According to officials, the projects focus on improving territorial governance, public services and sustainable development, while encouraging the exchange of expertise between local administrations in both countries.
The decentralised model allows cities and regions to collaborate directly, moving beyond traditional state-to-state cooperation and ensuring that funding delivers tangible benefits at community level.
“This approach places local actors at the heart of development,” officials said, adding that the programme aims to generate concrete, measurable results rather than remain confined to policy dialogue.
A partnership built over time
Decentralised cooperation between Morocco and France dates back to 2012, when the two countries launched their first joint funding mechanism dedicated specifically to local authorities.
Since then, four successive triennial funding cycles have been implemented, gradually expanding both the scale and thematic scope of the partnership.
Over more than a decade, the programme has supported dozens of projects in areas including administrative capacity-building, tourism development, digital transformation, youth engagement, citizen participation and environmental sustainability.
Officials say this continuity has enabled local partners to develop institutional expertise, strengthen management capacity and adapt cooperation models to evolving social and economic challenges.
Responding to local pressures
The latest funding round reflects that accumulated experience, with selected projects described as operational and results-oriented, closely aligned with local development priorities.
Several initiatives target municipalities facing social, economic or environmental pressures, particularly in areas affected by rapid urbanisation, climate stress or limited administrative capacity.
French and Moroccan officials stressed that decentralised cooperation complements national reform efforts by addressing challenges at grassroots level and reinforcing the role of local governments in service delivery.
Strategic dimension
Beyond the immediate projects, the partnership also carries diplomatic significance, reflecting the broader effort by Morocco and France to revitalise bilateral relations through concrete cooperation.
Decentralised cooperation has become a key pillar of that relationship, offering a platform for sustained engagement even during periods of political strain at national level.
Officials from both sides said empowering local actors helps anchor the partnership in long-term institutional ties rather than short-term political cycles.
Looking ahead
The steering committee also discussed the future of the programme, confirming that a new call for project proposals covering the 2026–2027 period is expected to be launched in the second half of 2026.
That next phase is expected to further deepen collaboration between local authorities, with a continued focus on governance, sustainability and innovation.
As Morocco pursues advanced regionalisation reforms and France seeks to strengthen cooperation with partners in North Africa, decentralised initiatives are increasingly seen as a practical tool for delivering shared development goals.
