Smarter Cities, Stronger Heritage: Toward Participatory and Knowledge-Driven Governance for Cultural Preservation in Morocco

This paper explores how Smart Urban Governance, Smart Knowledge Management (Smart KM), and participatory digital tools can reshape cultural heritage rehabilitation in Morocco. Using a qualitative, multi-method approach including comparative case studies, document analysis, and thematic synthesis, it examines the institutional, technological and civic forces at play. While Morocco shows strong political will, governance remains fragmented, citizen participation low, and Smart KM underdeveloped. By drawing lessons from Spain and Indonesia, the study highlights transferable innovations in digital storytelling and participatory governance. It concludes with a roadmap for Morocco emphasizing institutional reform, Smart KM investment, and inclusive, digital engagement strategies.