Casablanca — Morocco’s social support system is entering a new phase as authorities prepare to help millions of aid recipients move into employment and income-generating activities.
According to the 2025 annual report of the National Agency for Social Support (ANSS), 2.3 million households receiving Direct Social Assistance have been identified as having the potential to gradually transition from public aid into the labor market. The figure represents 60% of the 3.9 million households currently benefiting from the program.
The shift comes after the state has spent MAD 51 billion ($5.51 billion) on Direct Social Assistance since its launch. The program has become one of Morocco’s largest social protection measures, with an annual cost equivalent to about 2% of the country’s GDP.
ANSS says the objective is not simply to distribute financial support but to use it as a stepping stone toward economic inclusion. The agency’s analysis found that a large share of beneficiaries have the demographic and social characteristics needed to enter employment, vocational training, or self-employment programs.
Who are the targeted households
The agency divided beneficiary households into several categories. Among them, two groups account for much of the population identified for economic integration.
The first group, known as Emerging Households, represents 30.9% of beneficiaries. These are generally young and active families, largely living in rural areas, who need support linked to schooling and access to formal employment opportunities.
The second group, called Households in Transition, accounts for 25.2% of recipients. These households are also mainly based in rural areas and are expected to benefit from vocational training and income-generating activities.
The strategy appears to match the expectations of many beneficiaries. An ANSS survey covering 1,800 households found that 40% want professional support to help them find work or start a business. The same survey showed that 60% would prefer a stable formal job over continued cash assistance.
To support the transition, ANSS is working with several public institutions through a state coordination framework. The Ministry of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment, and Skills is responsible for coordinating labor market needs. The ministry is represented on the ANSS board by Minister Younes Sekkouri.
Testing a pathway out of welfare
Other institutions are expected to play a direct role in the process. Office of Vocational Training and Employment Promotion (OFPPT) will provide short vocational training programs adapted to local labor market needs, while the National Agency for the Promotion of Employment and Skills in Morocco (ANAPEC) will focus on job placement, monitoring recruitment opportunities, and supporting income-generating projects.
The agency is also testing a program called “Pass Inclusion” through a pilot backed by the World Bank and the European Union’s Karama II initiative.
The project targets men and women aged 18 to 45 who head beneficiary households. Participants receive different combinations of support measures, including job-search assistance and childcare subsidies for women, alongside their existing Direct Social Assistance payments and AMO Achamil health coverage.
The pilot will continue through late 2026, with results monitored over the following years before any wider rollout.
On the ground, implementation is already underway. The first territorial representation opened in El Jadida in December 2025. The site relies on 15 social referents who work directly with households, assess their situations, and guide them toward training or employment opportunities.
Their work is supported by digital tools, including a platform that matches beneficiary profiles with available jobs and training programs, as well as a geo-decisional intelligence system used to assess local labor market capacity.
ANSS plans to expand the model across Morocco’s 12 regions as it seeks to connect social protection with long-term economic participation.
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