In a speech addressed to Parliament on Friday, on the occasion of the opening of the 1st session of the 3rd legislative year of the 11th Legislature, the Sovereign cited as one of these major projects and reforms, the large-scale social protection project, "which I consider a pillar of our social and development model.”
“According to our Constitution, the family is the pillar of society. Therefore, I have always sought to make sure the conditions conducive to family cohesion are in place,” said His Majesty the King, recalling that the Letter He sent to the Head of Government asking for a review of the Family Code keeps “with the spirit of these national values - which consider the family and family bonds to be sacred.”
In this context, His Majesty the King indicated that the implementation of the program for the provision direct social assistance shall begin at the end of this year.
To give concrete substance to the values of social solidarity, which are deeply ingrained in Moroccans, “I have decided that this program should not be limited to the payment of family allowances. I have made sure it also includes some social segments that need support,” underlined His Majesty the King.
This assistance will concern, explained the Sovereign, school-age children as well as children with disabilities, newborn babies and also impoverished and vulnerable families without school-age children, especially those supporting elderly people.
Thanks to its direct impact, this program will contribute to raising the standard of living of target families and will help fight poverty and vulnerability, in addition to improving social and human development indicators, added HM the King.
“Society is more productive and proactive when it is deeply committed to solidarity. It also becomes more resilient to contingences and fluctuations,” noted the Sovereign, underlining that He has " instructed the government to adopt a comprehensive approach for the implementation of this program, in keeping with the principles of the framework law on social protection adopted by Parliament.”
His Majesty the King indicated that the program should be implemented in a gradual manner, taking into account the funds allocated, the optimal scope of the coverage, the amounts to be disbursed and how the assistance is to be managed.
Its implementation, the Sovereign insisted, should “be a model of successful implementation, based on the system for targeting beneficiaries under the unified social registry, making sure modern technology is properly leveraged.”
His Majesty the King also stressed “the need to uphold the principles of solidarity, transparency and equity, and to provide assistance to those who deserve it,” calling on the government to give priority to the rationalization of current social benefit schemes and ensure their effectiveness as well as the sustainability of their financing.
“I also insist on the need to uphold the principles of good governance for the implementation of this project in its entirety; a special monitoring and evaluation mechanism needs to be set up for the project’s continuous development and evaluation,” added His Majesty the King.