Official data: 26% progress on 'Open Government Morocco'

Official data showcased that by the end of December 2024, about 26% of the commitments under the 2024–2027 Open Government National Action Plan had been fulfilled. This is the third plan of its kind, following the 2018–2020 and 2021–2023 action plans.

According to the Open Government portal, the progress reported for the end of 2024 spans five main areas with 12 commitments in total. Work is underway on 11 of these, while one commitment has yet to be addressed.

Morocco joined the Open Government Partnership in 2018, becoming the initiative’s 76th member. The partnership, launched on September 20, 2011, during the UN General Assembly’s annual session in New York, was founded by 8 countries, including the US and Brazil.

This initiative is designed to encourage member countries to strengthen participatory democracy by putting citizens at the center of decision-making. It focuses on promoting transparency, access to information, integrity, combating corruption, and leveraging modern technology.

To align with these goals, Morocco has rolled out 3 National Action Plans: the first spanning 2018–2020, the second 2021–2023, and the third covering 2024–2027.

As the data outline, 19.7% of the commitments under the Transparency and Participation pillar, which includes 3 key commitments, have been fulfilled.

The first commitment, involving consultations on revising the Access to Information Law, is 19% complete. The second, focused on expanding the publication and use of open data, has reached 20% completion. The third commitment aims to enhance transparency and participation in designing and implementing the updated National Human Development Strategy.

Meanwhile, progress under the Civil Space pillar stands at 47%. This includes 48% completion of efforts to strengthen the environment for civil society organizations and 46% progress on promoting freedom of the press and publication.

The data from the Open Government platform showed that 26% of the commitments under the “Equality and Inclusion” pillar have been achieved.

This includes 29% progress on improving access to public services for Amazigh-speaking citizens, 46% for supporting civil society organizations, and close to 30% for the National Volunteering Program. However, work has not yet started on the commitment to enhance transparency in disability assessments.

In the Open Justice pillar, progress stands at 12%, with 7% focused on improving access to justice services and ensuring equal treatment for users while considering regional differences, and 17% progress on increasing women’s access to judicial information.

At the end of the first year of the Open Government National Action Plan 2024–2027, the data showcased that 27% progress has been made on the commitment focused on “Open Territorial Communities.”

This commitment aims to “encourage and institutionalize principles of openness at the local level through spaces for dialogue and collaboration between territorial communities and civil society organizations.”