El Banco Mundial recomienda a Marruecos reforzar la inversión en servicios públicos para hacer frente a la COVID-19

The World Bank, along with the United Nations and the High Commissioners for the Plan (HCP), have published a joint statement recommending Morocco to strengthen investment in public services to address the COVID-19 pandemic, which was picked up Tuesday by the Moroccan news agency MAP. These agencies indicate that it is necessary to strengthen public health, education and administration in these times of uncertainty and also as a bet for the future. "Public services are the only guarantee for those sectors of the population that are most disadvantaged. Some indicators are already beginning to show the impact of the crisis on access to basic services," the note points out. 

With regard to health, 30% of families entitled to pre- and post-natal consultation services had to give up these services, according to the survey carried out by the HCP last April on the effects of the crisis on families, while 36% of Moroccans with children who should be vaccinated gave up vaccination services, the same source recalls. This disruption of essential public services, often linked to fear of the virus, uncertainty about the duration of the situation, reduced mobility or lack of connectivity, can create latent vulnerabilities or amplify existing ones that are likely to manifest themselves more deeply in the months and years to come, the note warns.

According to the same source, this basically concerns the area of health (detection of pathologies and regular care), but also education, where interruptions in schooling increase the risk of dropping out. The note also calls for the development of a new model of economic balance and sustainable development, in line with the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDA), drawing lessons from the current crisis and leaving no one behind.

The main recommendations for Morocco included in the note prepared by these agencies include the development of a new model of economic balance and sustainable development, in line with the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, supported by the monitoring of indicators already available. This recommendation implies, as a first step, supporting the analysis of the effects of the crisis on the different sectors, supporting the planning of the economic and social response, as well as the management of resources.

It is also important to collect and analyse data in context, so as not to leave anyone behind and to see the crisis as an opportunity to strengthen advanced regionalization and to value the role of civil society. Other indications include reviewing the evolution of poverty after the pandemic and planning an inclusive response. This includes planning a response tailored to the segments of the population most affected by the crisis and therefore most vulnerable to falling into poverty.