Advanced regionalization and mechanisms for mountain development in the Beni Malal-Khenifra region (Morocco

Abstract

Advanced regionalization is considered a new development model adopted by Morocco after all other regional policies failed to achieve territorial development and eliminate all forms of imbalances and disparities among Morocco’s regions and geographical areas. In fact, these policies exacerbated the severity of imbalances, particularly in mountainous regions, and perpetuated their precarious situation. This inconsistency and vacillation in adopting different policies highlights the instability of development policies and approved programs. It also highlights the failure to establish an effective and efficient formula or a genuine development model for the development of all Moroccan regions, as well as the failure to find an appropriate formula that aligns with the situation of mountainous regions in general, and with the specific conditions and characteristics of the mountainous regions of the Beni Mellal-Khenifra region in particular. Advanced regionalization offers significant development options through which a qualitative leap in territorial development can be achieved. In this regard, the study relied on field research and bibliographic sources to examine certain aspects related to regional development mechanisms under the modern model