Regional Conference Highlights Gender Gaps in Local Politics

As part of the international “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign and within the framework of the AMSSAWASS project, AIDECA, in partnership with the Doctoral Studies Center at Sultan Moulay Slimane University (USMS), organized a regional conference to present the results of a participatory assessment on challenges facing women elected officials during their term of office.

Key Findings Reveal Persistent Barriers to Women’s Political Participation

The conference addressed several major topics:

  • Comprehensive participatory assessment results: Findings from the diagnostic study conducted at the regional level revealed systemic challenges in institutional support, resource allocation, and cultural attitudes affecting women leaders

  • Documented evidence of persistent challenges: Discussion on specific obstacles that women elected officials continue to face while performing their duties in various elected councils, including limited access to key decision-making positions and influence over budget allocation

  • Multi-stakeholder institutional perspectives: Including representatives from:

    • Territorial Communities Division of Azilal
    • Faculty of Arts and Humanities of Beni Mellal
    • Regional Human Rights Commission of Beni Mellal-Khénifra

  • Unprecedented regional dialogue: With the participation of more than 140 attendees, including elected officials, experts, cooperative and association representatives, and academic researchers, creating the largest regional forum on women’s political participation to date

Strategic Roadmap for Political Gender Equality

The results of this event will guide AIDECA and its partners’ efforts toward:

  • Evidence-based capacity-building program: Targeting 40 women elected officials from various elected councils in the region with tailored training addressing specific governance skill gaps identified in the research

  • Policy innovation through advocacy: Encouraging regional officials to adopt concrete measures promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in political and public life, supporting implementation of Morocco’s commitments to gender parity

About the AMSSAWASS Project

The AMSSAWASS project is part of the “Ajyal Equality” program, funded by the French Development Agency (AFD) and the French Embassy in Morocco, which aims to promote equality between women and men in North Africa.

This program is implemented by Expertise France with the support of local actors committed to gender equality and women’s empowerment issues. Our organization also implements the ASTA project focused on climate resilience and the ASSURIF project for socio-economic inclusion, both contributing to our comprehensive approach to sustainable development in the region.