Empowering women to be economically independent in Morocco | Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD)

Women living in rural areas of Morocco not only face the challenges posed by a male-dominated society, but also have to survive in environments where basic infrastructure is a luxury. Nevertheless, they remain very active, perhaps even more so than their urban counterparts, attending to unpaid work that includes household and field chores, child-rearing and looking after livestock.

In recent years, the establishment of cooperatives has empowered Morocco’s rural women by helping them to succeed in making their own mark in economic development. Despite the problems they confront, such as marketing their products, women’s cooperatives have played a leading role in improving the conditions of rural life.
Women running businesses in underdeveloped and remote regions of the country have been getting help from a project implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The project has used an innovative approach, combining technological, technical, managerial and commercial support, to help transform some of Morocco’s traditional products from artisanal to semi-industrial production.
As part of the project UNIDO provided women’s associations and cooperatives engaged in the small-scale production of olive oil, textiles, and dried fruits and vegetables with support to help them improve management, access to technology and commercialization expertise.
One of the beneficiaries of the project was the Femmes du Rif economic interest group organized in Morocco to process and commercialize olive oil.
Recently, the group achieved a major success when the extra virgin olive oil that they produce was given protected geographical indication (PGI) accreditation. This recognition will contribute to the further development of the identity of the olive oil they produce and thus it will become more competitive on the market.
As a result, women producers have become better organized, are making better use of local raw materials and are able to sell more of their products locally and internationally. The project has helped to economically empower women: they now create wealth and employ others, and their standing within their families and communities has improved.

For more information: http://www.unido.org/news/press/in-accreditation.html