Work meeting between ALGA of UCLG Africa and the Provincial Council of Tiznit, Morocco, on the partnership project (FACDI) with Shomolu-Bariga City, Lagos State, Nigeria

On 13 April 2023 at the Headquarters of UCLG Africa in Rabat (Morocco), the African Local Government Academy (ALGA) of UCLG Africa held a work meeting with the Provincial Council of Tiznit represented by its Vice-President, Mr. Chehmat Yassir, and Mr. El Yazid Hafdi, Director General of Services, to discuss the implementation of the partnership project between the Provincial Council of Tiznit in Morocco and the City of Shomolu-Bariga of Lagos State in Nigeria. The purpose of this meeting was to follow up on the project, of which ALGA is a key partner. 

Dr. Najat Zarrouk, Director of the Development Pole and ALGA Academy of UCLG Africa, and her team in charge of monitoring the projects of the African Fund for International Decentralized Cooperation (AFIDC), Ms. Abir Achour and Mr. Koffi Abalo, reviewed the employment program of the project and discussed the exploratory mission that will be carried out by Moroccan experts in Nigeria in the coming weeks. 

With an overall cost of 3 million dirhams, the project aims to promote social, inclusive and resilient governance through the promotion of solidarity tourism. It is supported by the African Fund for Support to International Decentralized Cooperation (AFIDC) of the Ministry of Interior of the Kingdom of Morocco, i.e. 1,800,000 Dhs, 30% by the Provincial Council of Tiznit, i.e. 900,000 Dhs, and 10% by the City of Shomolu-Bariga, i.e. 300,000 Dhs. 

The project will contribute to the sustainable and integrated development of the City of Shomolu-Bariga through ecotourism and will allow the creation of 150 direct jobs and more than 2,000 indirect jobs through the implementation of fifteen (15) new projects. 

At the end of the meeting, the Academy organized a courtesy visit to the honorable guests at the headquarters of the Moroccan Association of Presidents of Prefectural and Provincial Councils (AMPCPP) where they were welcomed by the Executive Director of the Association, Mr. El Hanchi Abdelaadim. They had the opportunity to exchange on the activities of the Association and the challenges it has to face in order to accompany the local authorities in territorial governance and development, by reinforcing its place among the local national actors concerned by the reinforcement of decentralization mechanisms.