2009年-世界发展银行全球_Decentralization_and_Deconcentration_in_Morocco___Cross-Sectoral_Status_Review_36页_665kb

Summary of Decentralization and Deconcentration in Morocco

Core Content

This report provides an analysis of the decentralization and deconcentration processes in Morocco, focusing on their impact on public policies at the sub-national level and in key strategic sectors such as agriculture, health, education, energy, and urban development. It serves as background for the World Bank's preparation of the Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for the period 2010/2013.

Main Concepts

Decentralization

• Definition: Transfer of management responsibilities from the central government to sub-nationally elected authorities.
• Scope: Involves decision-making, financial control, and public service management.
• French Concept: Emphasizes quasi-autonomous sub-national governments such as regions, provinces, and communes.
• Anglo-Saxon Equivalent: Often referred to as "devolution" or "political decentralization."

Deconcentration

• Definition: Redistribution of decision-making authority from the central government to local representatives or government agencies.
• Scope: Focuses on administrative processes, not political ones.
• French Concept: Central government services retain control over deconcentrated services.
• Anglo-Saxon Equivalent: Often referred to as "administrative decentralization."

Rationales

Economic Drivers

• Decentralization and deconcentration aim to accelerate economic development and poverty alleviation.
• They can improve public administration efficiency and effectiveness by reducing information asymmetry and aligning policies with local needs.
• Fiscal transfer programs can influence local resource allocation and poverty reduction.
• Risks include service deterioration due to uneven local revenue capacity and potential elite capture.

Political Drivers

• Decentralization and deconcentration can enhance political stability by increasing local participation and legitimacy.
• They promote democratic values and inclusion of marginalized groups in the political process.
• They can also be used to bypass inter-sectoral coordination issues in poorly performing ministries.
• However, they may exacerbate existing tensions and lead to local despotism or elite capture in the absence of strong bottom-up accountability.

Key Lessons Learned

• Government commitment is essential for successful reform implementation.
• Broad support from central and sub-national elites and civil society is crucial.
• Not all services need to be decentralized or deconcentrated in the same way.
• Sub-national governments require autonomy and fiscal resources to fulfill their roles.
• Administrative capacity at both central and sub-national levels is necessary.
• Local constituencies must have mechanisms to monitor government performance.
• Inequality at the local level can negatively affect distributional outcomes.
• Linking local spending to local tax efforts can enhance accountability.

Current Framework in Morocco

Political Dimension

• Three levels of sub-national government exist: regions, provinces/prefectures, and communes.
• Regions are responsible for socio-economic development in cooperation with central and local governments.
• Provinces and prefectures handle urban and rural development, infrastructure, and environmental protection.
• Communes manage basic public services and urban development.
• All decisions are subject to central oversight through mechanisms like tutelle.

Fiscal Dimension

• Sub-national governments have access to various revenue sources.
• Regional governments collect local taxes and are involved in fiscal transfer programs.
• Provinces and communes also have revenue autonomy, though they are subject to central control.
• The distribution of financial decision-making authority is not fully clear and remains subject to central oversight.

Administrative Dimension

• The central government retains administrative control over deconcentrated services.
• Deconcentrated services are managed by local government agencies and officials.
• The process involves a reorganization of administrative structures and the establishment of new mandates for local governments.

Outlook and Opportunities

Recent Government Initiatives

• The establishment of regional governments in the late 1990s and the push for deconcentration under King Mohammed VI.
• The adoption of the National Deconcentration Charter and regionalization concepts.
• The 2009 Communal Council elections reinforced the national debate on institutional reform.

Opportunities for World Bank Involvement

• The World Bank can support the development of strategic planning frameworks for local development.
• It can assist in the design and implementation of fiscal transfer programs.
• It can help strengthen administrative capacity and accountability mechanisms at the sub-national level.
• It can contribute to the promotion of public-private partnerships (PPPs) and other innovative financing mechanisms.

Conclusion

Morocco has a long history of decentralization and deconcentration, with significant institutional and legal developments since independence. The current framework includes three levels of sub-national governance, with varying degrees of autonomy and responsibility. While the reforms have aimed to improve local participation and efficiency, challenges remain in terms of fiscal autonomy, administrative capacity, and equitable resource distribution. The World Bank has an opportunity to support these processes through strategic planning, capacity building, and financial mechanisms.