Fez profile

Location: capital of the Fès-Boulmane Region, Centre-North Morocco
Inhabitants: 1 mln
UNESCO Heritage 1981
Vice-president of Euromed 2007-08
Capital of culture 2007 « Pays Islamiques »
Extension: 6 districts, plus Municipality of Mechouar

Levels of governance

Local level:
District
Municipality: in charge of the local development: urban planning, urban transport, waste management, public illumination, green areas, infrastructures and investments
Prefecture level: urban and rural municipalities of the prefecture
Region

Division of competences

Central government: national policies
The wali or the governor represents the central government at regional and local level – authorising officers for regional and prefecture governments.
Regional council: limited number of competences and power, but increasing trend toward regionalisation.
Prefecture council: limited power and budget.
Mayor and municipal council: under the supervision of the Minister of Interior

Previous experience urban development

1. Tourism: Fés municipality has approved asregional tourist development plan (PDRT) involving two main areas:
   Oued Fès : (200 ha) – Golf pitch, villa housing development, international fair, 4 and 5 stars Resorts
   Wislin : re-development plan of the Medina area
2. Regional handcraft sector development plan (PDRA)
   Goal: creation of 2 industrial and handcraft areas outside the wall to relocate polluting industries and handcrafts actually located in the medina area.
3. Series of infrastructures plan

Expectations
The STREAM Cities project will support the ongoing urban development strategy:
“at the moment the Municipality is finalising the urban plan in collaboration with the urban agency to enlarge the urban perimeter to face the demographic positive trend….”