UM6P’s Social Innovation Lab Commits to Youth, Women Empowerment Across Morocco

Rabat – The Social Innovation Laboratory at the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) has served over 4,2000 beneficiaries across Morocco’s 12 regions since its establishment in 2019.

A statement from UM6P said that the innovation laboratory has been committed to mobilizing initiatives to create an impact at different levels, including regional, national as well as continental.

“These efforts are materialized across the 12 regions of Morocco directly benefiting over 4,200 beneficiaries,” UM6P added, noting that the beneficiaries include 53% of youth not classified in education, employment, or training.

The statement added that about 64% of the beneficiaries come from rural populations. The lab supports over 700 cooperatives throughout Morocco, providing them with strategic diagnostic, tailored training as well as technical aid and coaching.

The program at the lab covers support for social entrepreneurship, encompassing women’s entrepreneurship in addition to digital inclusion, with a focus on youth.

In the realm of women entrepreneurship, women represent 48% of the total participants in the program’s initiative, and the lab supports their autonomy through empowering initiatives like Al Montija.

The Al Montija program specifically targets rural women’s entrepreneurship, supporting 50 women in the rural towns of Bouizate and Ouled Salmae in the Safi region. Through this project, women receive tools and guidance to help them develop their local projects, and their scope is far-reaching.

“Over 400 women benefit from these initiatives, covering all stages from project ideation to management and development of income generating activities, including mentorship and access to essential professional networks,” UM6P added in the statement.

In the realm of digital inclusion, the social innovation lab puts youth at the center, with training programs for a wide array of digital skills. Among these trainings include skill building for youth in video editing, digital content writing, and marketing strategies.

The UM6P statement further outlines that the lab works to optimize agricultural value chains, and also prioritizes the promotion of cultural and artisanal heritage through its support of 50 local enterprises. These support systems are designed to modernize these artisan’s practices and improve the competitiveness of their products.