Morocco Enhances Governance of Public Institutions through New Strategic Reforms and Achieves Transparency and Efficiency
Nadia Fettah, the Minister of Economy and Finance, affirmed that Morocco has built a leading experience in the governance of public institutions and enterprises, thanks to years of reforms and structural initiatives that have enhanced the effectiveness of this sector. She explained that public institutions and enterprises today face new challenges related to efficiency, transparency, and achieving a tangible social impact, amidst rising citizen expectations and increasing economic pressures.
During the opening of the seminar “Presentation of the OECD Guidelines on the Governance of Moroccan Public Institutions,” attended by senior heads of Moroccan public institutions, Fettah emphasized that the reform process has recently been strengthened with the issuance of the revised version of the "Charter of Good Governance Practices for Public Institutions and Enterprises," published in the official gazette on April 28, 2025. She added that the aim of this document is to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency through a set of recommendations that regulate the relationship between the state and these institutions and their management.
The minister noted that this meeting, organized by the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the National Agency for Strategic Management of State Contributions, in partnership with the OECD, comes as part of the reform and modernization of the public institutions and enterprises sector. She confirmed that public institutions are a fundamental pillar for economic growth in Morocco, contributing to vital sectors such as energy, transportation, infrastructure, and essential services, in addition to their role in ensuring social and territorial cohesion.
Fettah explained that the current context, characterized by increased citizen expectations and financial and economic pressures, necessitates a re-examination of the governance system of these institutions. She highlighted the need to renew management mechanisms, improve performance, and enhance accountability to ensure the achievement of the desired objectives. She added that the meeting represents an opportunity to exchange best practices and strengthen efforts toward strategic and sustainable management of public institutions and enterprises.
In this context, the minister indicated that the revised version of the guidelines for the governance of public institutions adopted in October 2024 provides a robust reference framework, reinforcing the directions that Morocco has begun to implement, such as enhancing operational independence for institutions and ensuring strict performance monitoring. She emphasized that the OECD remains a benchmark partner in this field, supporting continuous efforts through technical support missions and the exchange of best practices.
Abdel Latif Zaghnoun, Director General of the National Agency for Strategic Management of State Contributions, presented a “structural initiative” that consists of establishing the “GUIDE” (Governance Upgrading Initiative for Development and Excellence) classification, which is the first national framework of its kind inspired by international standards. He explained that this classification includes a governance charter reflecting the OECD’s directions, aiming to promote public bodies engaged in paths of transparency, integrity, and continuous improvement in governance.
Zaghnoun praised the existence of a new governance charter for public institutions and enterprises, considering it an important organizational step aimed at achieving structural transformation in the public sector towards effectiveness, transparency, and accountability. He deemed the adoption of OECD guidelines as a pivotal stage, but stressed that the true measure of progress lies in the application of these principles and their ownership by stakeholders on the ground.
