El Alami: Women’s Entrepreneurship in Morocco as a Path to Empowerment and Reducing Gender Gaps
Younes El Alami, the Minister of Economic Integration, Small Enterprises, Employment, and Skills, confirmed that women’s entrepreneurship is a government priority, serving as a key tool for women’s economic empowerment and narrowing the gender gap. He highlighted that supporting women entrepreneurs contributes to sustainable development and improving their living standards.
The minister indicated that the ministry is working to launch programs to support women’s projects in Morocco, including the “Ana Moqawil” award, which aims to stimulate innovation, with specific categories for women and persons with disabilities, especially in areas affected by the 2023 Al Haouz earthquake.
El Alami pointed to the importance of self-employment in Morocco as a legal framework that enables women to launch their projects flexibly, thanks to simplified procedures and low costs, noting that women make up 26% of the total self-employed individuals.
He also revealed the results of the “For You” program, which in 2024 supported over 2,300 women, contributing to the establishment of hundreds of small businesses and 754 new women’s projects, creating more than 1,700 job opportunities.
In the same context, he referred to the “Wighira” program aimed at supporting seasonal workers in Spain by assisting them in launching income-generating projects upon their return, in partnership with local and international actors.
