Minister: Social and Solidarity Economy Is Set to Create 50,000 Job Opportunities Annually

Rabat – Morocco’s Minister of Tourism, Air Transport, Craft & Social Economy Fatima Zahra Ammor confirmed that the “social and solidarity economy” sector is set to contribute to the creation of 50,000 job opportunities annually.

The minister presented the annual report for 2021 and action plan for 2022 during a meeting of the Cooperation Development Office’s Board of Directors on Wednesday 5, according to a statement from the ministry.

With the implementation of the New Development Model, the social and solidarity economy sector became the third pillar of development alongside the public and private sectors, Ammor stated. She noted: “it is expected that the sector will contribute by 8% to the national GDP instead of 2% [the current rate] and to the creation of 50,000 new jobs annually.”

To reach this goal, the ministry is preparing a sectoral strategy focused primarily on cooperatives.

Morocco’s “Special Commission on Development” drafted the New Development Model between 2019 and 2021. It intends to increase Morocco’s competitiveness in the region, improve the education and health sectors, reduce territorial and social inequalities, and protect the environment.

The Director-General of the Cooperation Development Office Mr. Youssef Hosni highlighted the notable achievements of the office amid the COVID-19 crisis, which negatively impacted the prosperity of cooperatives.

Hosni reviewed the “Murafaqa” program. The initiative seeks to support and establish cooperatives in partnership with the OCP Foundation. Approximately 721 cooperatives benefited from the program in 2021.

The Cooperation Development Office also launched the Lala Cooperating Award and Solidarity Cooperating Competition to support women entrepreneurs and youth. Both programs provide training to selected cooperatives on management methods to ensure their economic sustainability.

Hosni also presented the work plan for the year 2022. It prioritizes the organization of structural and organizational workshops.

The workshops cover the digitalization of cooperatives’ administration. The digitalization initiative aims to simplify procedures and improve the efficiency of the sector.

Notably, the office aided in registering 5,127 new cooperatives and creating 25,000 job opportunities in 2021. In 2022, multiple entities related to cooperatives are anticipated to benefit from social protection.