Collective land reform and good land governance in Morocco: A contextualized LGAF-based assessment of the melkisation policy in sidi kacem

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background and Context: Collective lands constitute one of the most strategic land assets in Morocco, particularly within irrigated agricultural perimeters where land reforms increasingly seek to promote agricultural investment, land valorization, and territorial development. In this context, the melkisation process, referring to the privatization of collective lands for the benefit of right-holders, has progressively emerged as a major component of contemporary land reform policies in Morocco. Beyond its legal and technical dimensions, the reform raises important governance-related issues associated with transparency, participation, social inclusion, institutional coordination, and land tenure security. The melkisation project in the irrigated perimeter of Sidi Kacem represents a major pilot land reform initiative in Morocco, implemented through the collaboration of national institutions and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). Goal and objectives: The aim of our study is to test the integration of the melkisation project in the irrigated perimeter of Sidi Kacem with the principles of good land governance including transparent, participatory, inclusive and efficient management of institutions, through an adapted LGAF framework. Methodology: Qualitative and quantitative data collection using a mixed data collection framework was conducted through the administration of surveys, semi-structured interviews, consultation meetings with representatives of local communities and institutions and direct observation in the study area. This research method included different types of stakeholders in the melkisation reform: institutional stakeholders, representatives of ethnic communities and right-holders. Quantitative data was processed using SPSS while LGAF principles and thematic dimensions were adapted to the institutional, social and territorial melkisation framework in Morocco and adopted for the analysis of both sources of data. Resoults: The findings highlight strong institutional coordination, smooth administration, improvement in land tenure security and satisfying levels of transparency. However, more participatory and inclusive governance is needed because there are deficits in participation, information access, and women's inclusion. Keywords: Melkisation, Collective Lands, Good Land Governance, LGAF, Land Reform, Land Tenure Security, Right-Holders.