Significant Success for the Fourth Edition of the WeXchange Forum in Casablanca
The fourth edition of the WeXchange Forum, organized by the Abdelkader Ben Saleh Foundation on October 21 in Casablanca, achieved remarkable success under the theme: “The Economic Role of the Third Sector: Highlighting the Hidden Strength.”
The forum, which has become a reference annual event in the field of social and solidarity economy, brought together more than 400 experts, researchers, and economic and social stakeholders from Morocco and abroad to discuss ways to position the third sector as a primary lever for building a more inclusive and sustainable economy.
In her opening speech, Kenza Ben Saleh, a member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, emphasized that supporting and empowering the third sector with modern tools and mechanisms is essential to enhance its full economic and social role, stating:
“It is a crucial force for our country, driving us to rethink our models, strengthen solidarity, and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy.”
She added that the forum is part of the foundation’s efforts to support social innovation and empower change agents by building a participatory economy that places human needs at the heart of development.
For his part, Tarik Maaroufi, Director General of the Abdelkader Ben Saleh Foundation, highlighted that Morocco is a fertile ground for social innovation pioneers, adding that the forum serves as:
“A space for exchanging experiences, expanding learning horizons, and maximizing the impact of initiatives that contribute to building a more solidarity-based and sustainable economy.”
In the first session titled “The Third Sector, a Lever for Economic Development: Cross Perspectives for a New Model,” Lahcen Saidi, Secretary of State in Charge of Handicrafts and Social and Solidarity Economy, stressed the importance of integrating the social economy into the core of the national development model, clarifying that the ministry aims to raise the sector’s contribution to GDP from the current 2% to 4% by 2035.
Lamia Kamal Chawi, Director of the OECD Center, delivered a keynote address highlighting that social economy is no longer an alternative but has become a strategic pathway to enhance national competitiveness, noting that this sector contributes 7% of GDP in Spain and funds large projects in energy and the environment in Canada and Australia.
She affirmed that Morocco also possesses great potential for developing this sector, provided a clear institutional framework and improved access to financing are established.
The second panel, titled “The Role of Social Innovation in Unlocking the Economic Potential of the Third Sector: Cross Perspectives from Three Continents,” emphasized that social innovation is one of the most important drivers of economic and social transformation today.
In this context, Tarik Maaroufi stated, “Measuring impact gives real meaning to our commitment, as sustainable solidarity becomes a lever for value creation and societal transformation.”
Malik Diop, President of the African Forum for Social and Solidarity Economy in Senegal, reaffirmed that the social economy:
“Starts from the local reality and responds to community needs, which made it the most resilient model during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The program included five interactive masterclass sessions addressing various topics such as local employment, achieving sustainable development goals, valuing territorial resources, measuring social impact, and design thinking as a means to enhance innovation.
The forum also featured in-depth discussions on sustainable finance, capacity building, social marketing, and constructing effective cooperation systems, along with the role of data in decision-making within the third sector.
The event concluded with the Moroccan Social Innovation Awards (MSIA), honoring eight outstanding Moroccan initiatives.
The Amel Association received the grand prize for its pioneering project “Signal Café,” the first space in Morocco established by deaf individuals to serve the deaf community, embodying a model that combines integration, training, and employment while representing the spirit of active citizenship.
