The concept of inclusive cities is gradually establishing itself as an essential horizon for urban development in Morocco. Gathered on Tuesday in Rabat for a study day organized under the Urban October 2025 initiative, representatives from the National Habitat Council (CNH), the Ministry of National Land Planning, the National Institute of Town Planning and Urbanism (INAU), and the National School of Architecture (ENA) emphasized the necessity of integrating gender considerations into city planning to create more just, equitable, and sustainable spaces.
“Inclusive cities are not a luxury but a condition for justice, sustainability, and collective progress,” asserted Fatna Chihab, the Secretary-General of the CNH, in her opening remarks.
The inclusive approach, Ms. Chihab highlighted, requires a rethinking of how cities are designed and managed.
It is not about creating a city “for women,” but about considering the diversity of uses, experiences, and needs: those of women, youth, people with reduced mobility, and vulnerable populations.
For Driss Bouzarzait, Director of the Directorate of Innovation, Education, and Training (DIEF) at the Ministry of National Land Planning, the gender approach applied to urban planning allows for the identification of access inequalities to spaces and how to address them concretely.
It calls for a rethinking of the design of public spaces, transportation, and housing to ensure they equitably meet the needs of all while ensuring safety, dignity, and accessibility.
“Integrating gender considerations into curricula and professional practices is not a mere theme but a profound paradigm shift,” he stressed, calling for the training of urban planners capable of designing truly inclusive spaces.
The director of INAU, Adil Zabadi, also emphasized that the issue of gender is “neither an addition nor an option,” but a prerequisite for equal access to the city, mobility, and civic participation.
According to him, placing people at the heart of territorial transformations involves integrating the diversity of experiences, particularly those of groups often rendered invisible in urban development.
Abdelhadi Ibnyahya, director of the ENA, reminded that architectural training goes beyond technical skills: it must convey a culture of sensitivity, equity, and responsibility.
The ENA has thus committed to continuing to organize educational and research activities around themes of inclusivity, accessibility, and spatial equity.
“The theme of this meeting is both relevant and forward-looking. It reminds training institutions of their responsibility to integrate human and egalitarian dimensions into urban design,” he stated.
