Morocco launches direct social assistance programme for the most vulnerable populations
After the generalisation of the Compulsory Medical Insurance (AMO) at the end of 2022, the direct social assistance programme represents the second stage of the solidarity project, which is part of the Royal Vision on the Generalisation of Social Protection as one of the pillars of the social state. Morocco, in this sense, advocates the implementation of the necessary measures to achieve territorial and social justice, which is one of the main ambitions of the Alawi kingdom.
The social assistance programme launched by Morocco aims to improve the standard of living of children and poor and vulnerable families, fight poverty and precariousness, improve social and human development indicators and achieve social justice by extending the area of access to aid to include the broad categories of needy citizens.
Designed on the principle of equity and integration, the social assistance programme represents the cornerstone of the social initiative launched by the Moroccan monarch. This programme targets 60% of families who are not enrolled in existing social security schemes. And to further rehabilitate the national health system and continue the reform of the education and training system, in order to lay the foundations of the social state, Morocco will follow up this programme both legally and financially to ensure its implementation within the set deadlines.
With an overall budget of 2.5 million euros in 2024, rising to 2.9 million euros per year in 2026, and a timetable based on optimal governance that benefits from real permanent monitoring, the forthcoming implementation of this programme will bring about a revolutionary change in the field of social action in Morocco. In parallel with this programme, the country is implementing other major social reforms that will reinforce the culture of solidarity that characterises Moroccan society.
Aid will start in December 2023 with amounts that will increase progressively until 2026. The social shield is expected to reach 50 euros per month for each family regardless of its composition. If the composition of the family allows it to benefit from a higher amount than this minimum, the amount will be 60 euros or more, and direct transfers will be made through bank accounts or through payment establishments.
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Support for families with children
Monthly assistance will be granted for each child under the age of 21, so that a child from birth to the age of 5 will receive a monthly allowance of 20 euros from December 2023, rising to 25 euros in 2025 and 30 euros from January 2026. A school-age child will receive the same amount from the age of 6 until the age of 21, while a child with a disability will receive an allowance of 30 euros in 2024 before rising to 40 euros in 2026.
Under the "Daâm" programme, which concerns widows with orphaned children, the allowance will be 35 euros per month per child within the limit of three children until 2024, and the amount will rise to 37 euros in 2025 to reach 40 euros from 2026.
Support for childless families
The programme provides assistance to childless families or families with children over the age of 21, in particular to elderly families. From the end of December 2023, these families will receive a flat-rate support of EUR 50 per month. It should be noted that social assistance for families in need can be up to 100 euros depending on the composition of the family and the number of children.
Examples of family allowances
A family with one child will receive a direct grant of 50 euros per month from the end of December 2023. A family with two children in school will receive a direct monthly allowance of 50 euros at the end of the year and 60 euros from 2026. A widow will receive a monthly allowance depending on the number of children: one child: 50 euros from December, two children: 70 euros from 2024 and 80 euros from 2026 and three children: 105 euros in 2024 and 120 euros from 2026.
Childbirth bonus
The last strand of this programme concerns the childbirth bonus. This is a flat-rate grant per family for the first two births. The premium will be 200 euros for the first birth and 100 euros for the second.
This is a total of 2.5 billion euros to be mobilised next year, 2.9 billion from 2026. To meet this challenge, according to the Moroccan government, it is necessary to rationalise and redirect the funds allocated to several former support programmes, such as the progressive reform of the Compensation Fund, for example.