The Association, which aims to play a dynamic and structural role on behalf of all Moroccan regions in the success of the advanced regionalization process and the strengthening of the region’s role as a key actor in sustainable territorial development and local governance, greatly admired this pilot initiative from the TTAH Region and strongly supported its candidacy for the Hassan II Prize for the Environment for the year 2023.
One of the main goals of the SLEC project is to raise awareness among various target groups (elected officials, professionals, managers, and the general public). This will be carried out through a meticulous training plan that includes relevant training projects in both content and format. Part of these projects will be proposed by academic actors, who will contribute their valuable expertise in the fields of construction, renewable energy, and landscape development in the TTAH region. This message was received and appreciated by several university representatives who visited the booth, including the Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology of Tangier, the Director of the Institute for Training in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Careers in Tangier, Dr. Mohamed AHACHAD (Head of the Thermal and Energy Transfer Laboratory at Abdelmalek Essaadi University), and several faculty researchers from the same university.
Contractual Agreements with Municipalities Hosting the SLEC
One of the crucial stages of the project was selecting the municipalities where the SLECs would be established. To this end, the TTAH Region launched a call for expressions of interest (EOI) on March 21, 2023, to choose the locations for implementing the SLECs. This EOI resulted in the selection of the winning municipalities, with which a framework agreement was signed during the prestigious MEDCOP Climat 2023 event.
Media Coverage of the SLEC Project
As the SLEC project includes a communication component as part of its implementation strategy, the national press also felt the need to provide media coverage for this unique project—both in concept and in its EU-based funding—during its presentation at MEDCOP Climat 2023. To illustrate this, the online magazine Maroc7.ma requested and conducted an exclusive interview with Ms. Imane ZERRAD, the technical lead of the SLEC project and assistant to the project coordinator. She also serves as Head of the Environment and Sustainable Development Department within the Council of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Region. The interview provided a concise yet detailed overview of the project’s structure and goals, highlighting its European Union funding and decentralized cooperation with a region in France.
Conclusion
Ultimately, MEDCOP 2023 was a golden opportunity to spread awareness about the SLEC project to the broadest possible range of stakeholders. From institutions and ministers to regional actors of all kinds, the SLEC project became a focal point of intellectual curiosity for many participants. This thirst for knowledge, once quenched through the information shared at the SLEC booth, established the EU-funded project as a flagship initiative of the TTAH Region, in close collaboration with the South PACA Region.