In 2019, as part of its awareness-raising, outreach, and strategic vigilance efforts, the Moroccan Association for Combating Corruption, Transparency Morocco, launched a project that promoted transparency in managing land and property in Morocco.
Project Objectives:
- To spark discussion about the irregularities present in the sector;
- To hold meetings that brought together stakeholders from different backgrounds to identify gaps, entry points for corruption, sources of embezzlement, fraudulent practices, and privileges in the field of land and property management;
- To propose realistic and achievable solutions to promote transparency, the rule of law, and the effective management of public administration concerning land and property;
- To raise awareness and strengthen the social movement in support of integrity and improved governance in all matters related to land and property.
Expected Results
Five thematic workshops were organized to achieve these goals.
- The first workshop, held in Rabat on March 21, 2019, focused on transparency in preparing urban planning documents. It addressed corruption in drafting master urban development, zoning, and development plans, and formulated recommendations for addressing these issues.
- The second workshop, organized in Casablanca on June 10, 2019, again addressed transparency in urban planning processes. It examined bribery and corruption, irregularities in issuing subdivision and construction permits, and exceptions in planning regulations, and offered proposals to counter them.
- The third workshop focused on transparency in managing communal (tribal) lands.
- The fourth workshop explored transparency in transferring ownership of public and similar lands.
- The fifth workshop examined land and property theft issues through forgery and the use of fake documents, often colluding with actors exploiting loopholes in Law No. 39-08 (published in the Official Gazette, Issue No. 5998, dated November 24, 2011).
The recommendations developed during these workshops served as the foundation for advocacy efforts to encourage stakeholders and decision-makers to take necessary actions to ensure more transparent governance of the land and property sector.
