Morocco social aid reaches nearly 4 million households

The Direct Social Assistance (ASD) program has benefited 3.9 million households, including 5.5 million children and 1.7 million elderly people, according to the National Social Support Agency’s (ANSS) 2025 activity report. Around 60% of beneficiaries live in rural areas, highlighting the close correlation between multidimensional poverty and the geographic distribution of recipients.

According to the report, this distribution reflects the effectiveness of the Unified Social Register in directing assistance toward the most vulnerable areas, while also confirming the efficiency of the ASD program’s monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. Since its launch in December 2023 through the end of 2025, the program has disbursed a total of 51 billion dirhams to beneficiary families. Its annual budget represents approximately 2% of GDP, exceeding the average level observed in developing countries, where similar spending generally ranges between 0.5% and 1.5% of GDP.

During its first year of operation, the ANSS opened its first pilot local office in El Jadida province as part of efforts to make ASD a driver of social inclusion. The initiative relies on personalized support provided by the agency’s social workers in partnership with local stakeholders and is expected to be gradually expanded nationwide.

The report identifies five categories of beneficiary households: emerging households (1.2 million families), households in transition (986,000), life tandems (946,000), empty nests (584,000), and single individuals without a support network (156,000).

Eighteen months after its launch, ASD accounts on average for 18% of beneficiary households’ income. The report also found that 87% of recipients reported reduced financial stress. Looking ahead, 40% expressed a desire for support in accessing employment, while 77% said they hoped to secure a higher level of education for their children.

The report outlines plans to strengthen support for labor market integration and school retention, with the objective of making ASD not only a tool for reducing vulnerability but also a lever for social and economic empowerment.