Round Table on "Migrations and Urban Spaces in Moroccan Cities"

The round table was co-organized by Nawal Benabdallah, project manager, and Dr. Jean-Claude Baraka Munyaka, project coordinator from EPFL. The event began with a welcome speech by Meriem Regragui, Deputy Director of the Center for Global Studies at the UIR. After the opening remarks, Nawal Benabdallah, PhD, and co-holder of the research project, presented an international benchmark of innovative initiatives, highlighting the crucial role of public spaces in the process of migrant integration and building welcoming communities.

Representatives of the International Organization for Migration (IOM - UN Migration - IOM Rabat), Mouna Msireb and Saloua Hammari, as well as Dr. Jean-Claude Baraka Munyaka, offered a comprehensive overview of migration and urbanization in Morocco. The roundtable discussions were ably moderated by Dr. Youssef El Ganadi and Dr. Pablo de Roulet, both prominent members of the research project.

We express our gratitude to all participants and collaborators for their invaluable contributions to the success of this event.

This recent roundtable was marked by lively discussions, insightful presentations and productive exchanges between researchers, professionals and practitioners in the field. Participants explored the impact of migration on the configuration of Moroccan cities and their ability to foster the integration of migrants.

Main results:

1. Importance of Migration and Urban Planning Data

One of the key outcomes of our research project was the focus on bridging the data gap between migration and urban planning. The availability of high-quality data on the impact of migration on urban spaces is essential to inform government decisions on inclusive urban design. This data is crucial for building more inclusive and resilient cities and for monitoring progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 11.

2. Growing Awareness of the Interconnection between Migration and Urbanization

There is a growing awareness of the importance of linking migration and urbanization, as shown by the initiatives led by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and its partners. In particular, the project to promote the integration of migrants in Agadir, currently in the experimental phase by IOM Rabat, is significant for its use of an urban diagnostic tool.

3. Identified Priorities for Advancement

Following the in-depth exchanges with the participants, the drafting of the scientific state of the art and the finalization of the questionnaire were oriented towards aspects related to the integration of migrants in urban areas, with a focus on social interactions with local populations. The ongoing investigation is being carried out in certain neighbourhoods (Oulfa in Casablanca, Yacoub Al Mansour in Rabat and Mesnana in Tangier) and in the African market of Casablanca.

For more information, please visit: Moroccan Cities and Migration - UIR

Dr. Jérôme Chenal of CEAT and Dr. Nawal Benabdallah of CGS lead the coordination and scientific supervision of the project. If you have any questions, please contact us at:

Dr. Jérôme Chenal: [email protected]

Dr. Nawal Benabdallah: [email protected]

We look forward to sharing more updates with you soon.