Socio-Economic empowerment of women in Oasis and Argan grove areas in Morocco

This project aims to empower women and strengthen their economic status in Morocco's oasis zones. The Socio-economic empowerment of women in Oasis and Argan Grove Areas project will support women's entrepreneurship and the fight against gender socio-cultural and institutional barriers in order to promote the active participation of women in the oasis and argan grove areas in social and economic development and the emergence of a sustainable agricultural sector in those areas. Project activities include: 1) carrying out a study of present and future barriers and opportunities for women's and mixed professional organizations; 2) providing technical assistance to women's professional organizations in implementing the capacity-building plan; 3) developing a solutions mechanism for financing small-scale technical assistance projects and upgrading local infrastructure. The project is expected to directly benefit 6 600 women and 1 500 men registered in 1 044 professional organizations. In addition it should indirectly benefit 515 000 working people living in the targeted areas of Morocco.

The expected results of this project include: (1) increased the competitiveness and employability of women entrepreneurs in the sustainable and climate-resilient economic development of the oasis and argan grove areas in the agricultural craft and tourism sectors; and (2) created a socio-cultural and institutional environment conducive to the economic empowerment and climate-resilience of women in the Oasis and argan grove areas.