Open Data Initiatives and Governance Transparency in Moroccan Context

Open data initiatives have gained prominence as a means to enhance transparency in governance across various contexts. Morocco has increasingly embraced these practices in recent years, with open data portals serving as platforms for sharing government information and services. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative analysis through surveys and qualitative insights from interviews with government officials and civil society organizations (CSOs). Surveys revealed a significant increase in the number of citizens accessing open data portals for information about public services. Interviews indicated that this access led to higher levels of trust in governmental transparency initiatives, although challenges such as technical barriers remain. The findings suggest that while open data initiatives have contributed positively to governance transparency in Morocco, they face ongoing obstacles requiring further support and innovation. To sustain the benefits of open data initiatives, policymakers should continue to invest in infrastructure improvements and user-friendly interfaces. Additionally, fostering a culture of openness within government agencies is crucial for maximising impact. Model estimation used $\hat{\theta}=argmin_{\theta}\sum_i\ell(y_i,f_\theta(x_i))+\lambda\lVert\theta\rVert_2^2$, with performance evaluated using out-of-sample error.