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Join on Telegram Rabat – Women’s participation in Morocco’s cooperative sector has reached new heights this year, with a 6% increase in 2025, according to the Office for the Development of Cooperation (ODCO).
The figures reflect the growing role of women, especially those in rural areas, in driving Morocco’s social and solidarity economy.
The country now counts 7,891 cooperatives made up exclusively of women, bringing together over 73,000 members, nearly half of whom live in rural regions. In total, 267,953 women are actively involved in the national cooperative movement, with 61% coming from rural areas.
This marks a major shift in Morocco’s development landscape. Rural women are no longer limited to traditional roles, but are becoming leaders, innovators, and job creators in their communities, according to ODCO.
Aicha Errifaai, General Director of ODCO, said “empowering rural women economically is more than a social objective—it is a cornerstone of sustainable development.”
She added that by enhancing these women’s skills and facilitating access to markets and financing, “we are shaping a more inclusive cooperative model that can bring lasting change to local communities.”
The statement said that ODCO’s efforts align with Morocco’s broader national vision to promote women’s economic empowerment as a key part of sustainable development. The cooperative model is being used as a tool for job creation, regional balance, and inclusive growth, particularly in rural areas.
To achieve this, ODCO said it is improving women’s access to training, public procurement, and technical support. The Office is also encouraging women’s cooperatives to expand beyond traditional sectors such as sewing, embroidery, and livestock farming, which still account for 28% of initiatives, and explore new opportunities in agri-food processing, rural tourism, renewable energy, the circular economy, and organic farming.
Between September 29 and October 17 this year, ODCO organized 13 regional meetings across Morocco, bringing together 573 participants, including 489 women. Many of these women were young and came from rural training centers.
The Office added it works closely with several partners, including the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH), government ministries, universities, and local authorities, to help women’s cooperatives grow and diversify their activities.
