Held under the theme "The digital and intelligent transformation of local authorities in Morocco and Africa", in partnership with the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa), this session focused on the role of this transformation in the integration of digital assets in the process of decentralization, local governance and local and territorial development.
The speakers at this meeting, organized as part of the 9th edition of the Africities Summit held from May 17 to 21 in Kisumu, explained that the digital transformation of local governments aims to deploy integrated and decentralized management information systems, improving the citizen's journey and the business climate, as well as digital planning of the territory.
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the benefits of digital transformation in Morocco and Africa, it was noted during this session which was an opportunity to exchange on the dynamics of digital and intelligent transformation in the Kingdom of Morocco, UCLG Africa and African local governments.
Particular emphasis was placed on the commitments made, the progress made, the relevant innovations in governance and development at the local and territorial level, as well as the challenges faced and the means to overcome them.
In addition to this session, the participation of the DGCT at this continental summit was marked by the organization of a session on the performance of municipalities, where it was a question of presenting the objectives and purposes of the Support Program for the Improvement of the Performance of Municipalities (PAPC), launched by the Ministry of the Interior in partnership with the World Bank and the French Development Agency (AFD). It was an opportunity to present testimonies of several target communes of the PAPC.
In addition, the session on "Intermediate cities, drivers of inclusive and resilient territorial development", organized in partnership with the Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Urban Development, was an opportunity to build partnerships to universally promote the cause of intermediate cities, and make them a lever for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the new urban agenda.
In addition, in partnership with the African Academy of Local Authorities, the DGCT organized a session on the African Support Fund for International Decentralized Cooperation of Local Authorities (AFIDC).
It was an opportunity to present and explain the framework, issues, objectives, methodology and procedures of this African Fund, as well as its impact on local authorities and African populations.
In the framework of peer learning, the various speakers also shared the experiences and projects already initiated since the launch of the first call for projects of the ACIDF, inviting local authorities in general and intermediate cities in particular to seize this opportunity.
Composed of presidents of local authorities, elected officials, representatives of the Ministry of Interior, experts, as well as several actors related to the theme of the Summit, the delegation of the DGCT signed during this summit a strong participation, through the organization of sessions and side-events, as well as the signing of a number of agreements and memorandums of understanding with African partners.
Similarly, the Morocco stand was an opportunity to promote the experience of decentralization and advanced regionalization in the Kingdom as well as the various national strategies in tourism, industry and economy.
Nearly 5,000 African and international participants, including mayors and presidents of cities and local authorities, ministers, local elected officials, representatives of central and regional administrations, experts, participate in this summit, which is an opportunity to take stock of knowledge and experience accumulated around the world on the theme of intermediate cities.