Rabat: Conclusion of the cooperative support programme

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) organised a ceremony in Rabat on Tuesday to mark the conclusion of the cooperative support programme, initiated in partnership with the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH) and the non-profit organisation "GiveDirectly" to support cooperatives in Morocco.

Launched in 2021, this initiative has provided financial support to cooperatives, particularly those located in rural areas or excluded from existing social protection systems, in order to support their recovery, meet their growth needs, and strengthen their resilience in the face of crises.

This collaboration, which took the form of direct financial support for more than 1,600 Moroccan cooperatives, has helped to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, drought, inflation, and the Al Haouz earthquake, reports the MAP.

This programme, marked by the distribution of 14.8 million dollars in the form of grants, has demonstrated how direct investment in the empowerment of local communities can catalyse significant and lasting change, indicated the director of the USAID-Morocco mission, Randy Ali, in a statement to the MAP.

The success of this programme lies in its ability to adapt to the changing needs of vulnerable communities, by responding to crises such as drought, inflation, and the Al Haouz earthquake, he noted.

Through the support of 10,000 cooperative members, including 55% women, more than 33% young people, and 2% people with disabilities, this partnership has set a benchmark for resilience and economic recovery, he added.

For his part, the Wali-National Coordinator of the INDH, Mohamed Dardouri, affirmed that this project, which is part of the strategic orientations of the 3rd phase of the INDH, constitutes a model of successful and promising partnership, endowed with a strong social impact on the targeted cooperatives. It is also an effective tool that has strengthened their resilience, while allowing them to overcome crises and envision a more prosperous and stable future.

In addition to the financial aspect, the participants in this programme, particularly the cooperatives led by women, have shown courage and innovation by creating job opportunities for women in rural areas, noted Mr. Dardouri.

In terms of percentages, 72% of the beneficiary cooperatives are located in rural areas, 76% claim to have improved their financial stability, and 45% have recorded an increase in their sales of more than 24,000 dirhams, he specified.

Approached to provide a testimonial on her experience, Meriem Boudangat, President of the "Nisaae Hajar" cooperative (Al Haouz province), affirmed that this initiative has contributed to strengthening the management capacities of women in contexts of crisis and financial difficulty, and represents more than just financial aid, a safe passage towards better living conditions and greater empowerment for rural women.

"After the earthquake, we had to stop our activities, but thanks to the support received, we were able to develop our products. Currently, the cooperative has started to take care of packaging and labelling with the goal of strengthening its identity on the market," she recounted.

At the end of this programme, a cooperative financing model was put in place to serve as an evidence base for a future response to economic shocks, in coordination with the government.