By Youssef Sourgo
Morocco World News
Casablanca, May 21, 2013
While celebrating its 8th anniversary May 18 under the theme “Economic inclusion within the framework of the INDH,” the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH) raised the question of whether its mission has concluded. As the World Bank puts, the INDH aims at assisting “the Government in improving inclusiveness, accountability and transparency of decision making and implementation processes at the local level in order to enhance use of social and economic infrastructure and services by poor and vulnerable groups.”
INDH, which has successfully initiated 4,986 projects since its launching, with a total investment of MAD 3.86 billion, was the subject of a heated debate regarding whether it should be sustained or terminated.
By analyzing and studying the strengths and weaknesses of the NHRI, ministers, policymakers and Moroccan researchers scrutinized the question at a roundtable at the Wilaya of Casablanca.
“We have to get out of the INDH,” stated Interior Minister Mohand Laenser during the debate.
“The idea and philosophy of social development and economic integration with which this initiative came up one day must rather be rooted in the population itself," added Mr. Laenser.
The INDH, according to Mr. Laenser, should only continue as an initiative integrated in all sectors of society to answer very specific needs, only via developmental projects that demonstrate long-term visions.
“INDH should not be considered a public policy or some sort of a parallel administrative structure,” stated Mr. Laenser.
According a researcher present during the event, "limiting INDH to the provision of budgetary allocations is a replication of the same mistakes made prior to its initiation.”
A more positive view was expressed by Abdelouahed Souail, Minister of Employment, who deemed INDH “a new and contractual manifestation of solidarity.”
“We expect results and sustainability for each project that INDH invested in,” stated Mr. Souali.
Ultimately, the majority of participants stressed the importance of anchoring the philosophy of the INDH and raising awareness of the importance of the economic integration of all components of society.
"As long as there is poverty, such initiatives have reasons to exist," Mr. Laenser said.
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