Empowering Women Through the Development of Forestry Cooperatives in Morocco

The project aims to improve the living conditions of women and men in rural communities who are members of forestry cooperatives in the Middle Atlas and the Eastern Plateau of Morocco. The project targets women members of rosemary and cedar cooperatives in particular. The project aims to improve the well-being of 10 000 direct and indirect beneficiaries belonging to vulnerable rural communities members of ten forestry cooperatives. The project aims to improve the performance of forestry cooperatives to create and sustain decent jobs including at least 2 000 jobs for women by supporting sustainable management and processing of rosemary and cedar. Furthermore the project supports these cooperatives in the diversification of their economic activities and in the creation and improvement of sustainable services that meet the differentiated needs of their members. Project activities include: (1) rolling-out an awareness program for the beneficiaries on the importance and benefits of egalitarian relationships within the household; (2) offering a field-school training program aimed particularly at women on sustainable management operations for cedar and rosemary; (3) providng a training program to elected officials and managers on the equal participation of women in cooperatives; (4) providing support and advice to elected officials on the development of business plans and cooperative financing; and (5) carrying out technical and economic analyzes with the Department of Water and Forests of Morocco on the commercial potential of forestry cooperatives.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) empowerment of women in supported rural communities taking into account climate change and environmental sustainability; (2) improved performance of the supported cooperatives in maintaining and generating decent and sustainable services and jobs particularly for rural women; and (3) strengthened the capacity of Moroccan public stakeholders in promoting sustainable egalitarian and inclusive economic development of forestry cooperatives.