Economic Empowerment of Women in Morocco’s Argan Sector

The purpose of this project is to enhance the economic empowerment of women in the argan sector of the Arganeraie Biosphere Reserve thereby contributing to sustainable economic growth in Morocco. Project activities include: (1) capacity building training and support for women’s co-operatives and women entrepreneurs; (2) increasing the competitiveness of the private sector and co-operatives by using innovative marketing techniques consolidating and pooling resources for the collection and storage of raw materials and tracking the resource; (3) enhancing market access through the preparation of international market studies and support for research and innovation; and (4) institutional strengthening of stakeholders in the argan sector. The project helps reduce gender-specific barriers and benefits 12 000 women directly through increased productivity or job opportunities. It also benefits up to 100 000 people indirectly (including men women and children in targeted regions) through engagement and awareness activities. In addition these outcomes have an impact on the population as a whole as the argan sector plays an important role in the livelihoods of an estimated 2.2 million people.

The expected results of this project include: (1) a reduction in gender bias in the argan sector; (2) empowered women’s entrepreneurship in the sustainable development of argan; and (3) a reduction in cultural and social attitudes affecting women’s economic decision-making in the argan sector.