HIBAPRESS
The Minister Delegate in charge of Investment, Convergence and Evaluation of Public Policies, Karim Zidane, confirmed on Friday in Laayoune that the Kingdom of Morocco is permanently committed to major African issues, particularly sustainable development, economic integration and the consolidation of peace and stability.
Zidane highlighted, in a speech on the occasion of the tenth general assembly of the African Parliamentarians Network for Development Evaluation, that this commitment falls within the framework of the enlightened vision of King Mohammed VI, which makes South-South cooperation a basic lever for development in Africa, and consecrates the solidarity approach between the countries of the continent. He shed light on the importance of effective public work, centered on the citizen and based on policies capable of tangibly improving living conditions, in an international context characterized by rapid transformations and growing challenges. In this context, he mentioned that Morocco, based on its awareness of the strategic importance of evaluation, has strengthened its system in the field of institutional governance, through reforms that target the performance of public work, the modernization of administration and the convergence of public policies. The Minister stressed that evaluation “should not be considered merely a tool for ex-post monitoring, but as a tool for guiding investment, providing economic actors with reliable data on the results of sectoral policies,” adding that this approach enhances a more predictable environment for investors, and strengthens the credibility of public initiatives. Faced with the challenges facing the continent, Zidane stressed the need to adapt public work by developing evaluation and foresight mechanisms, and improving the effectiveness of development policies thanks to more effective regional cooperation, and reforming management patterns to enhance convergence and consultation on them. He also stressed the need to develop evaluation systems in African countries, considering that it is a collective responsibility that includes governments, legislative institutions, supervisory bodies, academic circles and civil society. The Minister concluded that Africa, rich in investment and growth opportunities, needs today policies and initiatives that are in line with its priorities, and capable of overcoming the obstacles that impede its sustainable development and economic integration. The tenth annual general assembly of the African Parliamentarians Network for Development Evaluation, which is held under the slogan “The African Parliamentarians Network for Development Evaluation… a lever for improving the evaluation of public policies for integrated governance”, aims to reaffirm political commitment to evaluation in Africa, strengthen legislative and institutional mechanisms dedicated to this purpose and enhance regional cooperation in this field, at a time when African countries are assessing the progress made in implementing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, and the priorities of the African Union’s 2063 agenda. This meeting also represents an important moment for the African Network for Sustainable Development, by providing a space for consultation and institutional follow-up and exchange of experiences, and contributing to the gradual strengthening of the culture of evaluation at the regional level, in support of more effective and transparent governance and based accurately on results.
