National urban policies around the world play a crucial role in implementing a shared strategic vision among different levels of government to promote balanced, polycentric and quality urbanisation. For more than two decades, the OECD has been supporting countries in their efforts to overcome urbanisation-related challenges, such as urban sprawl, mobility barriers, and inequality, through urban policy reviews or thematic studies.
Building on this expertise, the OECD Principles on urban policy, endorsed by the OECD Regional Development Policy Committee (RDPC) in 2019, provide a guiding framework for policymakers at all levels of government to develop their urban policy based on lessons learned from international best practices. In particular, the fourth Principle calls on governments to "set a clear vision for national urban policy that is fit for the future, by assessing and addressing the impact of globalisation, urbanisation, ageing, migration, population growth and decline the production revolution, digitalisation, climate change, and other transformative trends on cities of all sizes". National urban policies are also essential for coordinating actions and resources between different levels of government to address the specific needs of territories, national objectives, and global commitments related to urban policy and sustainable development.
The OECD National Urban Policy Reviews series provides analysis, recommendations and good practices to help different levels of government develop quality polycentric urbanisation, which is based on a system of competitive, inclusive, sustainable and resilient cities. According to a survey conducted by the OECD of all cities, metropolitan areas and countries that have undergone an urban review in the last 20 years, 88% of the recommendations made by the OECD have been fully or partially implemented.
The National Urban Policy Review of Morocco was developed on the basis of close consultations with national, regional and local stakeholders, and following the OECD methodology which is based on the normative framework provided by the OECD Principles on urban policy, comparative data and analysis, a dialogue with peers to share good practices, and co-production of an action plan in shared responsibility with stakeholders. In the light of international experiences, this Review proposes a roadmap for coherent, polycentric urban development that is a source of economic growth, social inclusion and environmental sustainability. Improving urbanisation is indeed a crucial issue to support the necessary efforts highlighted in the OECD Economic Survey of Morocco (2024) aimed at increasing productivity and putting Morocco on a path of convergence towards high-income countries. It is now up to national and local actors as well as Moroccan stakeholders to take them into consideration and implement them in the future.
This Review was presented for discussion at the 35th Working Party on Urban Policy on 14 May 2024 and approved by written procedure on 28 August 2024 under the cote [CFE/RDPC/URB(2024)14].