Participatory governance, a determining factor for ensuring sustainable territorial development: Case of the Fez-Meknes region[La gouvernance participative facteur déterminant pour garantir un développement territorial durable : Cas de la région Fès-Meknès]

Facing a growing crisis of confidence in traditional institutions and an increasing demand for more democratic practices, the participatory governance approach offers relevant solutions to territorial challenges linked to sustainable development. Participatory governance directly involves citizens in decision-making processes, while sustainable territorial development aims to foster economic growth that is environmentally responsible and socially equitable. This study examines how these two approaches can complement one another, emphasizing the crucial role of citizen participation in creating development models that are both more sustainable and more democratic. It also discusses key principles of participatory governance such as transparency, inclusion, deliberation, and accountability. Several theoretical perspectives enrich this analysis, including deliberative democracy and empowerment theory. The objective of this research is to explore the relationship between these two concepts based on data collected in the Fès–Meknès region. It also includes secondary goals such as contributing to theoretical understanding and assessing the impact of participatory governance on sustainable and inclusive development in the region.