Over 267,000 Women Power Morocco’s Cooperative Movement in 2025 – Morocco World News

Report on Women’s Participation in Morocco’s Cooperative Sector and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A 2025 report from the Office for the Development of Cooperation (ODCO) indicates a significant advancement in Morocco’s social and solidarity economy, driven by increased female participation in the cooperative sector. A 6% rise in women’s involvement this year underscores the nation’s progress towards key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning gender equality, economic growth, and poverty reduction. The data reveals a transformative shift, with rural women emerging as key economic actors and leaders in their communities.

Contribution to SDG 5: Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment

The growth in women’s cooperatives directly supports the achievement of SDG 5 by promoting women’s full participation and equal opportunities for leadership in economic life. The cooperative model is proving to be an effective tool for the economic empowerment of women, especially in rural regions.

• Total Women-Only Cooperatives: 7,891
• Members in Women-Only Cooperatives: Over 73,000
• Total Women in the National Cooperative Movement: 267,953
• Rural Representation: 61% of all women in cooperatives reside in rural areas.

According to Aicha Errifaai, General Director of ODCO, “empowering rural women economically is more than a social objective—it is a cornerstone of sustainable development.” This approach aligns with Morocco’s national vision to create an inclusive cooperative model that fosters lasting change and gender equality.

Impact on SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)

The cooperative movement serves as a primary driver for inclusive and sustainable economic growth, contributing directly to SDG 8. By creating jobs and fostering entrepreneurship, particularly in rural areas, these initiatives are instrumental in poverty alleviation efforts, in line with SDG 1. The model promotes regional balance and ensures that economic benefits are distributed more equitably across the country.

Strategic Initiatives for Sustainable Diversification

To sustain this momentum, ODCO is implementing strategies to enhance the capacity and reach of women’s cooperatives. These efforts focus on moving beyond traditional sectors to embrace more sustainable and high-growth industries, contributing to a range of SDGs.

1. Capacity Building: ODCO is improving access to training, technical support, and public procurement for women-led cooperatives. Between September 29 and October 17, 13 regional meetings were held, engaging 573 participants, of whom 489 were women.
2. Sectoral Diversification: While traditional sectors like sewing and livestock farming still represent 28% of initiatives, there is a strategic push towards new fields that support broader sustainability goals. These include:
   • Agri-food processing (SDG 2)
   • Rural tourism (SDG 8)
   • Renewable energy (SDG 7)
   • The circular economy (SDG 12)
   • Organic farming (SDG 2)

Fostering Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17)

The success of this initiative is underpinned by strong multi-stakeholder collaborations, reflecting the principles of SDG 17. ODCO works in close partnership with a network of national and local entities to create a supportive ecosystem for women’s cooperatives to thrive and expand their activities. Key partners include:

• The National Initiative for Human Development (INDH)
• Government ministries
• Universities
• Local authorities

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• The article’s central theme is the economic empowerment of women, particularly in rural areas, through their increasing participation in cooperatives. It highlights how this participation is transforming them into “leaders, innovators, and job creators,” which directly aligns with the goal of achieving gender equality.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• The article discusses how the cooperative model is being used as a “tool for job creation, regional balance, and inclusive growth.” By supporting women’s cooperatives, Morocco is fostering entrepreneurship and creating productive employment, which are key components of SDG 8.

SDG 1: No Poverty

• By focusing on the economic empowerment of rural women, the initiative described in the article directly addresses poverty. Providing women with “access to markets and financing” and enhancing their skills helps improve their livelihoods and contributes to poverty eradication in their communities.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• The article emphasizes the inclusion of a specific demographic group—rural women—in the country’s economic development. The efforts to empower them economically and create a “more inclusive cooperative model” are aimed at reducing the economic and social inequalities they face.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership in economic life. The article directly supports this by highlighting the increase in women’s participation in cooperatives and their emergence as “leaders, innovators, and job creators.”
• Target 5.a: Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to financial services. The article mentions that the Office for the Development of Cooperation (ODCO) is working to facilitate women’s “access to markets and financing” and “access to training, public procurement, and technical support.”

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, and entrepreneurship. The article describes the cooperative model as a national strategy to promote “job creation” and “inclusive growth,” encouraging women to create their own economic opportunities.
• Target 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men. The focus on creating jobs and economic roles for 267,953 women through the cooperative movement is a direct contribution to this target.

SDG 1: No Poverty

• Target 1.4: Ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources and access to financial services. The article’s emphasis on providing rural women with access to financing and markets is a clear example of efforts aligned with this target.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social and economic inclusion of all. The entire initiative described in the article is focused on the economic empowerment and inclusion of rural women, a group often facing significant inequalities.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article provides several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Indicator: The percentage increase in women’s participation in the cooperative sector. The article explicitly states a “6% increase in 2025.”
• Indicator: The total number of cooperatives run exclusively by women. The article provides the figure of “7,891 cooperatives made up exclusively of women.”
• Indicator: The total number of women who are members of these exclusive cooperatives. The article mentions “over 73,000 members.”
• Indicator: The total number of women actively involved in the national cooperative movement. The article states this number is “267,953 women.”
• Indicator: The proportion of women in cooperatives from rural areas. The article specifies that “61% [of women in the cooperative movement] coming from rural areas.”
• Indicator: The number of women participating in training and networking events. The article notes that “489 women” participated in 13 regional meetings.
• Indicator (Qualitative/Implied): Diversification of women’s cooperatives into new economic sectors. Progress can be measured by tracking the number of cooperatives moving beyond traditional sectors into areas like “renewable energy, the circular economy, and organic farming.”

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: moroccoworldnews.com