Implementing risk management in local authorities: An exploratory case study of Moroccan municipalities

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the main challenges and obstacles that local authorities may face in implementing risk management. Interest in this issue in the public sector, and especially in local authorities, is relatively recent, and only a few studies have been performed in this area concerning some developed and emerging countries. Consequently, this research aims to explore risk management adoption and diffusion in Moroccan local authorities. To this end, a risk management model developed in our previous research was used. This model is based on a comparison of nine of the soundest risk management standards released by national and international professional bodies. A research framework was created to transpose and test this model within Moroccan local authorities. In addition, an exploratory study was carried out based on qualitative data collected from interviews with middle and high officers from four Moroccan municipalities. The results show that Moroccan local authorities are facing both strategic and operational challenges in their implementation of risk management. To overcome these challenges, key recommendations are proposed to successfully implement risk management. Accordingly, this study provides an overview of risk culture, risk awareness, and risk management practices among Moroccan local authorities. It offers a practical guide for local authorities’ stakeholders who want to promote risk culture and lay a foundation for risk management implementation.