Equality & female empowerment and employability promotion in Morocco – What is Needed ?

Legal Framework and National Policy

In recent years, Morocco has undergone a process of democratization and consolidation of the rule of law, which has resulted in strengthening of human rights and fundamental freedoms, This process was initiated by the promulgation of the Family Code (“Moudawanat Alousra”) in February 2004 and enshrined in the adoption of a new Constitution (July 29, 2011), which proclaims the principle of gender equality by stating that “men and women enjoy, on an equal basis, civil, political, economic, social, cultural and environmental rights and freedoms” (Article 19).

Since 2002, important and innovative efforts in gender-responsive budgeting have been reinforced by the adoption in 2015 of the Organic Law on the Finance Law (LOF) which institutionalised, in its articles 39 and 48, the consideration of the gender dimension in the programming practices of ministerial departments.

Since 2006, with the adoption of the National Strategy for Gender Equity and Equality (SNEES), Morocco has clearly marked its political will to actively promote equality between women and men by integrating the gender approach into development policies and programs. The SNEES found its operational translation with the adoption in 2011 of an Action Plan – the Governmental Agenda for Equality (AGE) – which will lead to the Governmental Plans for Equality I and II (PGE I and PGE II). The PGE I (2012-2016) and PGE II (2017-2021) and the government of Morocco is planning to develop PGE III (2022- 2006). The key objective of PGE I and PGE II is the institutionalisation of the principles of parity and gender equality, the fight against all forms of discrimination and violence against women, and the promotion of women’s economic inclusion.

Despite all the efforts, The World Economic Report on gender gap (2021) register an important gap of 0,388 in equality between men and women in Morocco ( https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00X4H8.pdf ). What is needed for equality & female empowerment and employability promotion in Morocco to fill this gap is the following:

• Establish a national database of the economic situation of women;

• Develop tailored solutions to specific categories of women;

• Ensure follow on through the value chain for each project;

• Harmonisation of existing legislation with the provisions of the new constitution and commitments made by Morocco at the international level;

• Effective participation of civil society in the design of gender and social inclusion programs;

• Effective implementation of participatory democracy, and the principles of good governance and accountability;

• Effective implementation of gender responsive budgeting in national and local budgets, reinforced by an inclusive monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system;

• Integration of parity as a global policy within the government and local authorities;

• Strengthening communication based on gender in all national policies; and

• Establishment of M&E mechanisms at national, regional and local levels.

Each idea can be developed into a specific project to ensure continuous reduction of the gender gap. TALM Consulting Company that is based in Morocco and works in MENA Countries can provide support to any client who looks for working on one or more of the above mentioned aspects.