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Mustafa Baytas, the Minister Delegate to the Head of Government responsible for Relations with Parliament and the Government Spokesperson, emphasized that the issue of public funding for associations is one of the core concerns the government is currently addressing. He confirmed that the partnership between the state and associations is currently governed by a circular from the Prime Minister; however, the government’s ambition is to establish a more advanced regulatory framework through the preparation of a new decree, which is currently under review with the General Secretariat of the Government.
Baytas made this clarification in response to an oral question posed by the Independence and Unity team in the House of Representatives regarding ways to enhance public funding for associations during the public session for oral questions held yesterday, Monday.
The minister explained that the proposed decree aims to address several key points related to governance and transparency, primarily through the proactive publication of all partnership programs directed at associations, ensuring equal opportunities for various civil society actors.
Baytas noted that one of the most notable features of the project is the comprehensive digitization, requiring the mandatory publication of calls for proposals through a unified national platform and eliminating physical aspects from all procedures related to funding requests, especially during the initial interest and project submission phases.
The government official also highlighted that the project stipulates a pre-registration requirement on the national partnership portal for all associations wishing to benefit from public funding, allowing for accurate tracking of public support throughout its various stages.
In this context, Baytas affirmed that the proposed decree enshrines the right to access information by requiring funding entities to publish lists of projects and associations benefiting from public support, thereby enhancing transparency and enabling public awareness of public spending.
He added that the proposed text also aims to strengthen integrity and oversight by establishing strict mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation, obligating public funders to accompany the implementation of financed projects and stipulating the necessity of receiving detailed reports clarifying how public support was spent.
On a related note regarding the enhancement of the civil society’s developmental roles, the minister in charge of relations with Parliament stated that the government is working on the implementation of a strategic initiative aimed at empowering associations to actively engage in the national development process. This will be achieved through three key approaches: training, legislation, and digitization.
Baytas noted that major initiatives to strengthen civil society capacities have already begun, with a comprehensive training program completed in the Fes region, while preparations continue in the Marrakesh region, alongside plans for a forthcoming launch in the Rabat region, utilizing an innovative peer-based approach where associations train other associations at the regional level.
He also revealed the establishment of associative hubs aimed at creating strong coalitions at the regional level, ensuring the sustainability of impact and enhancing efficiency.
Legislatively, Baytas pointed to progress in strengthening the legal framework for associative work, highlighting the importance of completing the regulatory framework concerning contractual volunteering and citizen participation to institutionalize the relationship between the state and associations, while clarifying the rights and duties of volunteers, ensuring greater professionalism in performance.
In terms of digital transformation, the minister announced the launch of digital platforms to facilitate associations’ access to services and information, including the one-stop shop platform as a unified national gateway for associations and the interactive platform designated for distance training and enhancing collaborative mechanisms.
Baytas concluded his statement by affirming that these initiatives aim to enable associations to directly benefit from support programs through transparent and professional calls for proposals, thereby reinforcing the integration between the state’s efforts and civil society initiatives in service of development.
