Project profile — Economic Empowerment of Women in Morocco’s Argan Sector

• Morocco (100.00%)

• Democratic participation and civil society:
Democratic participation and civil society (15150) (20.00%)
Women's rights organisations and movements, and government institutions (15170) (40.00%)
• Agriculture: Agricultural co-operatives (31194) (40.00%)

• Gender equality (significant objective)
• Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting) (not targeted)
• Participatory development and good governance (not targeted)
• Trade development (not targeted)
• Biodiversity (not targeted)
• Climate change mitigation (not targeted)
• Climate Change Adaptation (not targeted)
• Urban issues (not targeted)
• Desertification (not targeted)
• Children's issues (not targeted)
• Youth Issues (not targeted)
• Disaster Risk Reduction(DRR) (not targeted)
• Indigenous Issues (not targeted)
• Disability (not targeted)
• Nutrition (not targeted)
• ICT as a tool for development (not targeted)

The purpose of this project is to enhance the economic empowerment of women in the argan sector of the Arganeraie Biosphere Reserve, thereby contributing to sustainable economic growth in Morocco. Project activities include: (1) capacity building, training and support for women’s co-operatives and women entrepreneurs; (2) increasing the competitiveness of the private sector and co-operatives by using innovative marketing techniques, consolidating and pooling resources for the collection and storage of raw materials, and tracking the resource; (3) enhancing market access through the preparation of international market studies and support for research and innovation; and (4) institutional strengthening of stakeholders in the argan sector. The project helps reduce gender-specific barriers and benefits 12,000 women directly through increased productivity or job opportunities. It also benefits up to 100,000 people indirectly (including men, women and children in targeted regions) through engagement and awareness activities. In addition, these outcomes have an impact on the population as a whole, as the argan sector plays an important role in the livelihoods of an estimated 2.2 million people.

The expected results of this project include: (1) a reduction in gender bias in the argan sector; (2) empowered women’s entrepreneurship in the sustainable development of argan; and (3) a reduction in cultural and social attitudes affecting women’s economic decision-making in the argan sector.

Results achieved at the end of the project (December 2023): (1) finalized all planned deliverables, taking into account the change in the upstream strategy for the argan value chain and the construction of collection centers; (2) allowed major acceleration in the implementation of the revised gender equality strategy, with additional efforts and resources allocated to carrying out planned activities; and (3) implemented the strategy for the perpetuation and sustainability of the project's results and achievements in collaboration with all key project stakeholders.

• Proactive disclosure