The programme combines infrastructure, economic transformation and social policies. It places phosphates, connectivity and employment within Morocco’s strategy for integrating the southern provinces and opening towards sub-Saharan Africa. Official documents announce expected production and employment effects; they do not independently measure achieved results.
Geographic scopes also differ: the “southern provinces” include administrative areas that do not exactly match former Spanish Sahara. Comparing budgets, populations or indicators therefore requires checking territorial coverage. Economic development, distribution of benefits and political settlement remain related but distinct questions.