Morocco’s socio-economic reform efforts stand out as “unique” on the African continent, French daily newspaper Le Figaro reported on Thursday. The “universal” social security reform initiative, which has been hailed as a “significant social milestone for Morocco,” stands in stark contrast to other African countries where typically less than 15% of their population is covered by any kind of social security system.
“The Kingdom is fast-tracking the implementation of its universal social protection reform, aiming to complete it by 2025,” according to an article published on Thursday by journalist Clara Galtier entitled “In Morocco, a historic social protection reform.” Its restructuring of the social security system “is expected to positively impact the lives of millions of households and improve the country’s human development index.”
Launched officially in 2021, this reform program is recognized as one of the most ambitious initiatives currently underway in upper-middle-income countries worldwide, according to the World Bank, cited by the newspaper.
The program is structured around the gradual implementation of several key pillars. The primary focus, starting in 2022 has been on mandatory health insurance. This initiative, financed through contributions, has been expanded to include an additional 22 million beneficiaries and complements the existing medical assistance plan (RAMED).
Regarding family allowances, the new assistance program, which began distributing payments at the end of December, replaces the previous Compensation Fund. Its objective is to provide a direct monthly income based on the number of children in an eligible household.
This extensive project, encompassing healthcare coverage and direct social assistance, is projected to require a budget of 40 billion MAD (3.6 billion euros) by 2026. The State plans to contribute 20 billion MAD over the next three years.
“If this reform is considered historic, it is also due to the tools used,” the newspaper further stated, adding that the key instrument is the Unified Social Register (RSU). This register acts as a central point for registering social program applicants.
The digital platform, accessible via smartphones, aids in identifying and evaluating households’ situations to determine their eligibility. The biometric system integrated into the application helps prevent fraud, making this reform a significant step forward, according to Le Figaro.