Mohammedia – Morocco and France have approved a new batch of joint decentralized cooperation projects, mobilizing a total of MAD 26.4 million to support 15 initiatives led by local authorities in both countries.
The steering committee reached this decision during its meeting on December 10 in Rabat, marking another step in a partnership that has steadily expanded over more than a decade.
The meeting was co-chaired by representatives of Morocco’s Ministry of Interior, through the Directorate General of Territorial Communities (DGCT), and France’s Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, represented by its delegation for local authorities and civil society.
Also present were senior officials, including the Wali and Director General of Territorial Communities, Jelloul Samsseme, and France’s Ambassador to Morocco, Christophe Lecourtier.
The approved projects fall under the framework of the Franco-Moroccan Joint Fund for Decentralized Cooperation and aim to strengthen collaboration between Moroccan and French regions, municipalities, and local institutions.
They focus on practical, locally driven solutions designed to improve governance, public services, and sustainable development at the territorial level.
With this latest round, both countries reaffirmed their shared commitment to empowering local actors and promoting long-term cooperation that directly benefits communities, rather than remaining limited to national-level agreements.
A partnership built over time
Decentralized 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 generations of joint triennial funds have been implemented, gradually expanding both the scale and scope of cooperation.
Over the years, the program has supported projects across a wide range of themes, including territorial governance, administrative capacity-building, tourism development, digital transformation, youth engagement, citizen participation, and sustainable development.
This continuity has allowed local partners to build institutional know-how, exchange expertise, and adapt projects to evolving local needs.
The current funding round reflects this accumulated experience, with selected projects designed to be operational, results-oriented, and closely aligned with local development priorities.
Officials from both sides emphasized the importance of ensuring that cooperation translates into concrete outcomes on the ground, particularly in areas facing social, economic, or environmental pressures.
Beyond the immediate projects, the steering committee also looked ahead to the future of the partnership. A new call for projects covering the 2026–2027 period is expected to be launched in the second half of 2026, signaling a continued commitment to decentralized cooperation as a strategic pillar of Morocco–France relations.
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