The contribution of the mining industry to the development of local economies, through employment and social interventions, makes this sector a vital player in the South-East of Morocco, participants at a conference on the development of mining areas in the region stressed on Tuesday in Casablanca.

The region has several mines in Zagora, Ouarzazate, Tinghir, and Errachidia, and the challenges of local development are enormous, which requires reflection on new mechanisms for a better connection between the programmes of different government sectors and the opportunities offered by mining companies in partnership with communes, local authorities, and civil society, they noted during this meeting on the "mining area development programme: a lever for the promotion of the South-East of Morocco".

In this context, a roadmap for the 2012 priority plan was established during various workshops and meetings organised by the Forum of Alternatives Morocco (FMAS) and the Associative Network for Development and Democracy in Zagora (RAZDED), in partnership with the Managem Group.

This plan, which required a total budget of nearly 10 million dirhams fully funded by Managem, is structured around 37 projects and activities responding to the needs identified as priorities by the populations, according to the organisers.

Its implementation will be ensured within the framework of partnership agreements between Managem and project leaders (associations and local authorities), they added, stressing that particular attention, a "priority of priorities", was given to the situation of children in the rural commune of Imider who did not attend school during the 2011-2012 year.

This approach consisted of organising summer camps for the benefit of these children, particularly for psychological and pedagogical support to prepare them for the start of the school year, and strengthening the psychosocial skills of the beneficiaries of the camps via an educational and entertainment programme.

The 2012 priority plan targets the Bouazzer mining areas in the rural communes of Ouiselsate and Tensift, with 27,000 inhabitants and 19 projects; the Bleida area (Bleida commune) with 5,000 inhabitants and a total of 8 projects; and the Imiter area (Imider and Ouaklime communes/13,000 inhabitants) with 10 projects.

The initiators of this meeting also presented the 2013-2015 strategic plan, which aims to achieve six strategic objectives focused on strengthening the capacities of local actors (associations and elected officials), conducting baseline studies in various fields related to the programme's interventions, and supporting the social development of mining areas.

This plan, which requires the mobilisation of an indicative budget of nearly 100 million DH, also tends to promote economic development, the preservation of the environment and cultures of the region, as well as reflection, consultation, and inclusion with a view to developing and advocating for reforms capable of favouring new approaches and practices of public policies, for sustained development of the region in harmony with the constitutional provisions of participatory democracy and transparency.