Casablanca – Morocco’s direct social support program continued to expand throughout 2025, reaching nearly 3.9 million households and becoming one of the largest social protection initiatives in Africa and the wider Middle East and North Africa region.

According to the latest annual assessments of the National Agency for Social Support, the program has distributed approximately $5.26 billion in direct financial assistance since its launch in December 2023, benefiting millions of vulnerable citizens, including children, elderly people, and low-income families.

The figures highlight the growing role of social transfers within Morocco’s public policy framework as authorities seek to reduce poverty, strengthen social cohesion, and improve living standards for vulnerable segments of the population.

Broad coverage across the country

By the end of 2025, the direct social support system had reached approximately 3.9 million households, including around 5.5 million children and 1.7 million elderly people.

The program relies on the Unified Social Registry, a national database designed to identify eligible households according to socio-economic criteria. Authorities consider this system a key pillar of Morocco’s broader social protection reform strategy.

Data from the National Agency for Social Support indicate that around 84% of beneficiaries belong to poor or low-income households, reflecting the program’s focus on supporting the most vulnerable groups.

The agency also reported a cumulative application approval rate of 91.9%, suggesting that the majority of eligible households seeking assistance have successfully gained access to the program.

Rural communities receive significant support

One of the most notable features of the program is its strong presence in rural areas.

Approximately 60% of beneficiary households are located in rural communities, where poverty and social vulnerability remain more widespread than in urban centers.

According to the agency’s analysis, the geographical distribution of beneficiaries closely mirrors Morocco’s multidimensional poverty map. Statistical evaluations found a very strong relationship between poverty indicators and the allocation of social assistance across regions and provinces.

This alignment is viewed as evidence that the targeting system is directing resources toward areas experiencing the highest levels of deprivation and social vulnerability.

Several regions with significant rural populations account for large shares of beneficiaries, reflecting both demographic weight and socio-economic conditions.

Child protection accounts for the largest share of spending

The program combines several forms of assistance, with child-related support representing the largest component.

By the end of 2025, approximately $3.37 billion had been distributed through child protection benefits, reaching roughly 2.45 million families. These payments are intended to support households raising children and to improve access to essential services such as education and healthcare.

Support for households that include elderly family members represented the second-largest category of assistance. Transfers linked to this component reached approximately $1.88 billion, benefiting around 1.47 million households.

The presence of nearly 1.7 million elderly people within beneficiary families highlights the program’s role in protecting older citizens from the economic risks associated with aging and reduced income opportunities.

Major public investment

The annual budget allocated to direct social support is estimated at around 2% of Morocco’s gross domestic product, placing the country among the region’s leading investors in direct social assistance.

According to the agency, this level of spending exceeds that observed in many developing countries, where direct cash transfer programs generally represent between 0.5% and 1.5% of national output.

The scale of public investment reflects Morocco’s decision to adopt a broader social protection model that extends beyond extreme poverty and includes households facing vulnerability or limited income.

Officials argue that this approach helps not only those already living in poverty but also families at risk of falling into hardship due to economic shocks or changing social circumstances.

Positive impact on household finances

An evaluation conducted approximately 18 months after the program’s launch found that direct social support has become an important source of income for beneficiary families.

On average, the assistance represents about 18% of household income, helping recipients cover basic living expenses and cope with rising costs.

Survey results showed high levels of satisfaction among beneficiaries. Around nine out of ten recipients expressed overall satisfaction with the program, while 87% reported that their financial situation had either improved or stabilized since receiving support.

Many beneficiaries also indicated that the assistance had reduced financial stress and uncertainty linked to daily expenses.

The majority of transferred funds are used to purchase food, pay for healthcare services, cover housing-related costs, and support educational expenses.

Demand for employment and social inclusion

Despite the positive impact of financial assistance, beneficiary expectations increasingly extend beyond direct cash transfers.

According to the agency’s findings, around 40% of beneficiaries expressed interest in support programs that could facilitate access to employment and professional integration opportunities.

Education also emerged as a key concern. Approximately 77% of surveyed households stated that helping their children achieve a higher level of education remains one of their primary aspirations.

These findings have encouraged authorities to explore ways of connecting social assistance with broader economic inclusion policies.

Toward a new phase of social protection

To support the next phase of the reform, the National Agency for Social Support has begun expanding its territorial presence and strengthening its proximity-based approach to service delivery. The objective is to bring support services closer to beneficiaries while gradually transforming the system from a mechanism focused primarily on financial transfers into a broader platform for social and economic inclusion.

The agency has also developed a classification framework that groups beneficiary households into five distinct social profiles, allowing public interventions to be tailored more effectively to the specific needs and circumstances of each group.

Looking ahead, authorities plan to expand local support structures, reinforce coordination with employment, education, and social protection programs, and provide more personalized guidance to beneficiaries. The goal is to help vulnerable households improve their long-term economic prospects while reducing their exposure to poverty and social exclusion.

Low administrative costs

The agency emphasized that the budget dedicated to direct social support is managed separately from its operational expenditures.

Administrative and management costs account for less than 0.8% of total program spending, while most available resources are directed toward beneficiaries.

Authorities view this low administrative ratio as an indication of operational efficiency and a means of maximizing the impact of public spending.

As Morocco continues to expand its social protection system, the direct social support program is increasingly positioned as a central instrument for reducing poverty, protecting vulnerable populations, and promoting long-term social and economic inclusion across the country.