On a regular Tuesday in June, as most of us were navigating inboxes or debating dinner plans, the city of Fez quietly made history.

Fez Among Finalists in Global Bloomberg Challenge for Waste Innovation

Marrakech – Fez, Morocco’s spiritual and cultural heartbeat, was named one of 50 global finalists in Bloomberg Philanthropies’ 2025 Mayors Challenge — a high-stakes competition designed to reward cities not just for dreaming big, but for dreaming smart.

Over 630 city proposals from every corner of the world landed on Bloomberg’s desk, but Fez stood out.

And not just for its iconic alleys or ancient charm — this time, it was all about waste. More specifically: how to turn the city’s most informal and overlooked workers — waste pickers — into key players in a new urban future.

Fez’s pitch? A waste sorting center that doesn’t just clean up the city, but cleans up the system.

Better working conditions, formalized roles, and hands-on training to improve recycling rates. It’s sustainability with soul — and structure.

In return, Bloomberg is handing Fez $50,000 (over MAD 455,130) to prototype its plan, plus an invite to the much-coveted Ideas Camp this July, where city innovators gather, brainstorm, and maybe even plot the next big global fix.

Then, in January, 25 winners will walk away with $1 million each and the tools to turn their prototypes into full-on policies.

For Fez, this isn’t just a nod — it’s a moment. A city known for its past is now leaning hard into the future.

The city isn’t just Morocco’s spiritual and cultural capital — it’s a city built on layers of knowledge, craft, and community resilience.

Home to the University of Al Quaraouiyine — the oldest still-operating university in the world — Fez has long been a hub for forward thinking, even when wrapped in centuries-old walls.

Its sprawling medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a living ecosystem where thousands of artisans, traders, and informal workers keep the local economy alive.

Waste pickers, like the ones Fez hopes to uplift through its new initiative, are part of this underrecognized workforce that has always sustained the city’s rhythm from behind the scenes.

The city also has a growing vision for environmental and urban planning: from efforts to rehabilitate the Oued Fez river and reduce pollution, to past projects focused on preserving heritage while improving waste infrastructure in the medina.

Fez is no stranger to complex urban challenges — or creative solutions. Its participation in the Bloomberg Mayors Challenge isn’t a pivot — it’s a progression.

A city that once led the world in education is now stepping up as a leader in inclusive urban innovation.

Bloomberg Philanthropies today revealed the 50 finalists of its latest Mayors Challenge — a global competition designed to spotlight the boldest, most impactful ideas in urban innovation.

Now in its sixth edition, the Challenge uplifts municipalities that dare to rethink how essential city services are delivered. From Boise to Belfast, Ansan to Addis Ababa, and Fez — the 50 cities selected span 33 countries and collectively represent over 80 million people.

Their proposals tackle everything from public transit and youth safety to climate resilience, water supply, sanitation, and social inclusion.

Each finalist, including Fez, will receive the money to prototype their concept and will participate in Bloomberg’s Ideas Camp this July — an intensive workshop where urban leaders fine-tune their projects with expert guidance.

Then, in January 2026, 25 of the most promising cities will be awarded $1 million (approximately MAD 10,000,000) each, along with operational support to make their vision a reality.