Morocco is seeking to transform its direct social aid program from a system centered on financial assistance into one focused on economic independence and productive integration, according to Budget Minister Fouzi Lekjaa.
The shift, which reflects what officials describe as a strategic change in the management of social policies, was outlined in a written response by Lekjaa to a parliamentary question submitted by lawmaker Aziza Boujrida of the Popular Movement party on strengthening the economic inclusion of beneficiaries of Morocco’s direct social support program.
Lekjaa said direct social assistance is not intended to be a permanent solution but rather a transitional mechanism aimed at helping beneficiary households achieve sustainable integration into the economy and contribute to value creation.
The minister cited field studies conducted by the National Agency for Social Support, which found strong interest among beneficiaries in entering the labor market and developing income-generating activities.
To facilitate that transition, the government has introduced several legislative and operational measures, most notably an exceptional allowance established under amendments to Law 58.23 governing the direct social support system.
According to Lekjaa, the allowance targets households that lose access to social benefits after declaring formal employment through the National Social Security Fund, or CNSS. The measure is intended to ease concerns among vulnerable groups about entering the formal labor market by providing temporary financial support and preventing sudden economic hardship.
The government is also preparing a new support program for mothers and children that would provide targeted financial assistance during pregnancy and the early years of childhood.
Under the proposal, women would receive 1,800 dirhams, or about $190, for a first pregnancy and 1,200 dirhams, or roughly $125, for a second pregnancy. A separate monthly allowance of 100 dirhams for children from birth to age 2 is also planned to help cover vaccination and basic nutrition costs.
The initiative forms part of a broader effort to improve Morocco’s social protection system through new digital platforms currently under development.
Among them is a geographic decision-making platform being designed by the National Agency for Social Support to monitor the social aid system, improve the targeting of interventions, analyze regional disparities and support long-term policy planning.
Lekjaa also highlighted the launch of a territorial office in El Jadida province, which became operational at the end of 2025 and serves as what officials describe as a laboratory for social innovation.
The office is testing support measures before they are expanded nationwide under a monitoring system built around two main priorities: employment and education.
The first initiative, known as “Pass Inclusion,” currently targets 2,820 participants divided into treatment and control groups to ensure accurate evaluation. The program offers direct employment incentives, child care services to help parents join the workforce, temporary continuation of social benefits after employment and individualized support for beneficiaries.
The second initiative, “Tous à l’école,” seeks to combat school dropout rates, particularly in rural areas, by targeting 2,500 children through Morocco’s Massar education system and field monitoring programs.
The program focuses on girls in the sixth grade and boys in the first year of middle school and provides a monthly stipend of 100 dirhams to encourage students to remain in school.
Lekjaa stressed that the direct social support program is part of a broader structural reform launched in line with King Mohammed VI’s vision to strengthen Morocco’s social state and protect households’ purchasing power.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.