CAMP Morocco enters its operational phase

Within the CAMP Morocco, two workshops were organised at M'diq, from 5 to 7 January 2009. In addition to national and international CAMP consultants and co-ordinators, the workshops were attended by about sixty participants, including: representatives of local and regional authorities, representatives of all ministerial departments involved in the CAMP, local NGOs, representatives of the local press, etc. The objectives of the first workshop were: (i) to present to the Project committee and all invited parties the methodological approach, which allowed to accomplish a preliminary diagnostic analysis and qualification of the coastal zone of the Central Rif. The analysis raised the most important specific issues of the region and its management, and revealed the most relevant elements explaining the actual situation through the SWOT analysis (assets - weaknesses - opportunities - threats) and PEIR indicators (pressures - state - impacts - responses); (ii) to propose and chose pilot actions that will demonstrate the feasibility of the ICZM process and establish the basis necessary for the success of the process launched towards sustainable development. At the same time, a training was organised on "participation and awareness-raising" for local-level actors appointed to play the role of facilitators with the task of promoting the participatory approach within the CAMP and provide support to Project activities.

These workshops represent a decisive phase of the CAMP Morocco, because they allowed to make, on an extremely participatory basis, consensual decisions concerning the choice of pilot actions and elaboration of the work programme for the preparation of their management plans. The two chosen pilot sites are: Jebha, in the province of Chefchaouen, and Souani, in the province of Al Hoceima. With this, it can be considered that the CAMP Morocco has entered its operational phase.