Natural disasters: Morocco's capacity to anticipate and public policy orientations in economic, financial, social, and environmental terms

On Thursday, October 12, 2023, the Royal Institute for Strategic Studies (IRES) organized a day of forward-looking reflection on the theme of "Natural disasters: Morocco's capacity to anticipate and public policy orientations in economic, financial, social, and environmental terms," in conjunction with the 2023 Annual Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank, hosted by Morocco. The event was intended as a contribution to the national and international debate on the issue of natural disasters, especially as October 13 has been proclaimed by the United Nations as the date for commemorating the International Day for Disaster Reduction.

Bringing together institutional players and experts from a wide range of backgrounds, it provided an ideal opportunity to take stock of the risks of natural disasters facing Morocco, examine their direct and indirect impact on society and the national economy, and assess the strengths and weaknesses of the early warning system and the public authorities' capacity to anticipate the risks of natural disasters and manage related crises, using a strategic foresight approach. The panel discussion, held at the end of the Day, provided an opportunity for several innovative ideas to emerge, in the context of a collective intelligence approach, with a view to enabling the Kingdom to better prepare and arm itself against the risks of natural disasters.