The results of the implementation of the **Participatory Democracy Performance Index for a Resilient and Inclusive Green Transition (PDI 4 GRI)** in several local authorities in the Casablanca-Settat region were unveiled on Thursday in Casablanca. The study highlights the efforts made by the concerned cities while emphasizing the need to continue these initiatives to address ongoing environmental challenges.
Developed by the **Moroccan Alliance for Climate and Sustainable Development (AMCDD)** over the period 2023-2024, this index aims to assess citizen participation in integrating climate, energy, and environmental imperatives into urban planning and local governance. It also allows for the analysis of the compliance of current practices with national and international standards regarding green and inclusive transition, while providing a participatory assessment of local impacts.
Hassan Agouzoul, an expert associated with the project, emphasized the importance for local authorities to adopt approaches that promote energy efficiency, waste valorization, as well as the promotion of sustainable mobility and environmentally friendly initiatives. He insisted that these efforts do not necessarily require significant financial resources, but rather a synergy between decision-makers and citizens.
The study also recommends leveraging collective and territorial intelligence to improve urban management, particularly in the fields of land use planning and urbanism. Another major finding is the lack of digital platforms providing dynamic and updated information for residents and socio-economic actors in the region.
For his part, **Abderrahim El Ksiri**, project coordinator and member of the AMCDD, specified that the index was deployed in 2023 in ten municipalities in the Casablanca-Settat region, taking into account the diversity of territories and local environmental issues. The evaluation was based on five key axes: **water, transport and mobility, green spaces, waste management, and participatory democracy.**
The initiative is supported by a network of over 800 associations and has benefited from the support of several institutional partners, including the Ministry Delegate in charge of Relations with Parliament, the General Directorate of Local Authorities, the Belgian Development Agency (Enabel), and the European Union.
The recommendations resulting from this study call for the improvement of urban sustainability indices, as well as the promotion of digitalization and artificial intelligence in key sectors such as transport, waste management, and culture, in order to ensure a better quality of life for citizens.