The discipline of representing the principal at every decision point of a construction project, so that they carry only the strategic decision, never the weight of execution.
You are an investor, a developer, a family office, an institution. You are about to commit to a significant construction project, and you understand this much: the quality of execution will depend less on the contract you sign than on the rigour with which it is enforced, month after month, on site.
That is precisely the reason for Delegated Project Management (DPM): entrusting a professional representative with the responsibility of defending your interests at every stage of the project, from feasibility study to final handover.
This guide is intended as the most complete English-language resource on the subject as it applies to Morocco: what DPM is, how it differs from Owner's Representation and Project Coordination, what its legal framework looks like, what it actually costs, and how to choose a representative who can handle a project of distinction.
The principal (in French, maître d'ouvrage) is the natural or legal person on whose behalf a building is constructed. They commission, finance, and accept the work. They also bear the legal responsibility for the project.
When the principal lacks the time, technical expertise, or operational depth to steer the project personally, a common situation for foreign investors, family offices, or institutions whose core business is not real estate, they may delegate part or all of their authority to a Delegated Project Manager (DPM).
DPM is not advisory: it is a mandate. The representative acts in the name and on behalf of the principal. They sign contracts, validate studies, authorise payments, accept the works. The principal retains strategic decisions; the DPM carries the entire execution.
The DPM is to the principal what an asset manager is to an investor: a professional who frees up time, secures execution, and defends their client's interest at every arbitration.
Three roles circulate in construction project management. Confusing them leads to ill-calibrated contracts.
| Role | Posture | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| DPM · Delegated Project Manager | Representative under mandate | Binds the principal by signature |
| OR · Owner's Representative | Counsel | Recommends; does not bind |
| PC · Project Coordinator (OPC in French) | Operational orchestrator | Manages schedule and trade interfaces |
In practice: Owner's Representation advises the principal on strategy, technical choices, and negotiations. They propose; the principal decides and signs. Project Coordination intervenes on site to orchestrate the trades and hold the schedule, it is an execution discipline.
The DPM encompasses both dimensions and adds contractual authority: they are, legally, the principal, within the limits of the mandate they have received. It is the most complete and most binding of the three missions.
In Morocco, Delegated Project Management is anchored in the Code of Obligations and Contracts (Dahir formant Code des Obligations et des Contrats), particularly its provisions on mandate (articles 879 onwards). For public contracts, it is governed by Decree no. 2-12-349 on public procurement.
The DPM mandate must be formalised in a written contract specifying:
Our methodology at Expert Agencement structures every DPM mission across seven distinct phases. This discipline allows every principal to know precisely where their project stands, at any given moment.
Feasibility study, land audit, programme validation, economic analysis, structuring scenarios. We interrogate the project before committing resources to it.
Selection and direction of the design team. Validation of progressive design stages. Building permit.
Tender package preparation, contractor consultation lot by lot, bid evaluation, negotiation, award. This is where 30% of a project's economic performance is won or lost.
Contract execution, mobilisation, insurance and warranty checks, validation of construction schedules. The project enters operational phase.
Weekly site supervision, quality control, financial management of contracts, change-order management, principal reporting. This is the heart of the mission.
Pre-handover inspection, formal acceptance with or without reserves, punch-list management, final validation.
Defect liability monitoring, biennial and decennial warranty assistance, project closeout, archive transfer to the principal.
Not every project warrants a DPM. But certain profiles benefit considerably:
There is no published rate. DPM fees in Morocco are negotiated. From our 25+ years of practice:
For comparison: a principal who attempts to manage a project without dedicated expertise typically experiences cost overruns of 15 to 30% relative to the original budget. A well-structured DPM mandate almost always pays for itself simply by controlling drift.
We are an engineering and Delegated Project Management house, founded in Casablanca in 2007 by Hassan Hafidi, a civil engineer trained at École Mohammadia d'Ingénieurs, EPFL and Duke University. Today, Hassan Hafidi serves in parallel as Head of Civil Engineering for one of Abu Dhabi's largest developers.
This dual presence, Morocco and the Gulf, is rare. It enables us to deliver execution standards aligned with the highest international benchmarks, while mastering the regulatory, cultural and operational specifics of the Moroccan market.
Owner's Representation advises the principal. DPM acts on their behalf under a formal mandate, with the authority to sign and bind. The first is a counsel; the second is a representative with binding authority within the scope of the mandate.
Fees typically range from 3% to 8% of total construction cost, depending on project complexity, scale, and the scope of the mandate. For exceptional projects, bespoke flat fees are agreed.
Yes. Under a Delegated Project Management mandate, the DPM is empowered to sign construction contracts, change orders, and any document binding the principal, strictly within the limits defined by the mandate.
As early as possible, ideally at feasibility study stage or upon land acquisition. The earlier the DPM is engaged, the greater their strategic contribution.
Yes. We operate across Morocco and the Gulf Cooperation Council region, particularly in the United Arab Emirates. Our founder serves as Head of Civil Engineering for a leading Abu Dhabi developer.
Every DPM mission begins with a confidential conversation. We do not formulate a proposal until we have understood the singularity of your case.