World Bank approves 500 million dollar loan for Morocco
The World Bank has approved a 500 million dollar loan for Morocco.
The aim is to improve the social protection system and the situation of those most vulnerable to health and environmental risks.
Second phase
As reported by the official Moroccan news agency MAP, this financing is the second in a series of three interventions aimed at supporting the government's reform programme in various areas, with a special focus on citizens' social coverage in this case.
The funding programme "in support of development policies to strengthen human capital and build a resilient Morocco is aimed primarily at vulnerable populations", following several harsh vicissitudes faced by the Moroccan kingdom, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the persistent drought, affecting water supply and agriculture, resulting from climate change, or the severe earthquake of 8 September that devastated several Moroccan enclaves, such as, above all, the High Atlas.
"Morocco, like many other countries, continues to face a series of crises, and the most vulnerable populations are the most affected," said Jesko Hentschel, the World Bank's director for the Maghreb and Malta, as noted in the official communiqué distributed.
"Moroccans are showing strong resilience, and to support them in this effort, the government will continue to expand health insurance coverage, promote better access to affordable healthcare throughout the country, strengthen governance in the health sector, support the implementation of the direct social assistance programme and improve protection against climate risks," he added.
"In the past year, the government has made significant progress in implementing reforms," the World Bank said. The Washington-based financial institution noted that the number of people eligible for compulsory medical insurance (AMO) has grown substantially, from 10 million (beneficiaries of RAMED, the medical assistance scheme) to 22 million (eligible for AMO-Tadamon and AMO-TNS).
In addition, according to the international financial institution, the legal framework of the health sector has been revised in order to reorganise the national health system. This second phase of financing will enable Morocco to better cope with health risks.
The new funding supports the measures implemented by the Moroccan state in accordance with King Mohammed VI's directives to strengthen social protection.
The Moroccan government has, for example, put in place a large package of measures to provide economic aid and material assistance and to restore infrastructure after the earthquake.
Third phase
World Bank funding will continue to support the Moroccan government in strengthening the institutional and coordination framework for climate risk and disaster management, and in developing insurance schemes and other solidarity mechanisms to protect farmers, who are hard hit by climate change and drought, the World Bank said.
The third phase of financing will continue to support Morocco in the area of social and health protection with the challenge of achieving universal health coverage and direct social assistance, as well as the expansion of pension schemes to improve the economic situation of the elderly.
