Rural Women Drive Transformation in Morocco’s Social Economy Through 7,891 Women Cooperatives
The face of the social and solidarity economy in Morocco is increasingly feminine, with data from the Cooperative Development Office revealing a 6% increase in women’s participation in the cooperative movement by 2025. This reflects a rising dynamism led by 7,891 active women cooperatives across various regions of the kingdom. Statistics indicate that approximately 268,000 women are engaged in this sector, with 61% of them hailing from rural areas, highlighting a profound transformation that positions rural women as true drivers of economic and social development.
A Catalyst for Growth and Empowerment
Once known for preserving traditions, the Moroccan rural woman has today become a complete economic agent, leading, innovating, and creating added value within her local communities. Aicha Rifaï, the Director General of the Cooperative Development Office, stated that empowering rural women is not just a social challenge but a cornerstone of sustainable development. She emphasized that enhancing women’s skills and facilitating their access to financing and markets contribute to building a more inclusive and transformative cooperative model.
The Cooperative Model as a Strategic Choice
This dynamism falls within the national vision for achieving balanced and sustainable development, aligned with the government’s roadmap in the employment sector. The Cooperative Development Office considers the women’s cooperative model a strategic tool for creating job opportunities, reducing regional disparities, and promoting shared prosperity. By supporting rural women’s access to training, public markets, and technical assistance, the office is transforming collective entrepreneurship into a real engine for economic empowerment.
Between Heritage and Modernity
The prosperity of women’s cooperatives relies on a social capital deeply rooted in rural solidarity culture, where women have traditionally collaborated in agriculture, harvesting, and sharing resources. The office is currently working to enhance this legacy by directing cooperatives towards innovative sectors such as food industries, rural tourism, renewable energy, circular economy, and organic agriculture, while also encouraging diversification of activities beyond traditional areas like sewing, embroidery, and livestock farming, which still represent 28% of total activities.
A National and Generational Dynamism
Between September 29 and October 17, 2025, 13 regional meetings were held across various regions of the kingdom, attended by 573 participants, including 489 women, in cities such as Tangier, Berkane, Khémisset, Tinghir, Guelmim, Laayoune, and Dakhla. These meetings highlighted a new generation of young, educated, and ambitious rural women who are preparing to lead local development.
The Solidarity Economy with a Feminine Touch
This transformation goes beyond mere numbers, reflecting a profound cultural and economic shift where the rural woman has become a key player in territorial development. Supporting women’s cooperatives is no longer just a gesture of solidarity but a conscious economic choice that creates value, maintains local job opportunities, and strengthens social cohesion, as confirmed by the Cooperative Development Office.
