CSO-driven and AI-driven advocacy to support small businesses in Morocco

The "CSO-driven and AI-driven advocacy to support small businesses in Morocco" project represents an innovative approach to empowering civil society organizations and small business owners through the strategic application of artificial intelligence tools. Launched in 2024 in the Béni Mellal-Khénifra region, this initiative has established the ASSURIF network, meaning "step" in Tamazight, bringing together 25 CSO leaders and small business owners committed to creating a more supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurship.

The network's Memorandum highlighting policy recommendations for small business support

At the heart of this project is the recognition that effective advocacy requires both human expertise and technological innovation. Through a series of dedicated training sessions, network members have gained practical knowledge about generative AI, large language models (LLMs), and natural language processing (NLP). This technical foundation has been complemented by capacity building in rights-based advocacy approaches, ensuring that technology serves the fundamental goal of advancing economic justice and opportunity.

The project's collaborative methodology has been instrumental in its success. Five working sessions brought together diverse stakeholders to design and implement an advocacy strategy focused on three key areas: improving small businesses' access to training opportunities, expanding their access to financial resources, and facilitating their participation in public procurement processes. These sessions utilized AI tools to analyze policy frameworks, identify systemic barriers, and develop targeted recommendations.

Tangible outputs from these collaborative efforts include five petitions and four advisory documents submitted to local government authorities. Each submission addresses specific policy challenges and proposes evidence-based solutions informed by both local knowledge and AI-assisted research. Additionally, the project team has developed a comprehensive Memorandum for the Ministry of Finance, outlining policy recommendations to create a more enabling environment for small businesses.

The project has demonstrated the potential of combining human-centered advocacy approaches with AI capabilities. As the ASSURIF network continues to evolve, it represents a promising model for how civil society can harness technological innovation to advance economic inclusion and opportunity in Morocco and beyond.