The Phosboucraa Foundation intensified its efforts in 2023 to encourage innovative entrepreneurship, particularly among young people and women, in order to generate a positive and sustainable impact on the local economy.
“The Foundation has opted for a continuous approach that allows it to activate the levers conducive to the development of innovative and sustainable entrepreneurship for the Moroccan Sahara. This approach has thus been carried out in four stages: raising awareness, preparing, innovating, and developing expertise,” reveals the 2023 annual report of the Phosboucraa Foundation.
Firstly, in order to raise public awareness, the Foundation launched “TOMOUH,” an audiovisual series in Hassani dialect broadcast on social media, the same source recalls, noting that this unprecedented audiovisual event promotes innovative entrepreneurship to a wide audience.
At the same time, the Foundation strengthened specific programs aimed at preparing future entrepreneurs for their activities, particularly young people and women: the Women Entrepreneurship program, aimed at better socio-economic integration of women, the summer program, and innovative skills dedicated to young people, allowing them to acquire not only expertise but also an entrepreneurial culture.
It also continued its support for start-ups, following and accompanying young entrepreneurs in their growth phase.
Moreover, the Phosboucraa Foundation emphasized innovation in 2023 through a component dedicated to digital and green entrepreneurship. It initiated projects such as the “InFarmer” program, launched in partnership with Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), which trains young people in digital agriculture and integrates cutting-edge technologies into African agriculture, thus creating new economic opportunities.
Technical and vocational training has also ensured the development of the necessary expertise for entrepreneurship. In 2023, these trainings particularly concerned collective catering managers, textile technicians, sports and socio-cultural facilitators, etc.
These trainings benefited around a hundred organizations, thus strengthening regional economic resilience.
The past year also allowed the Phosboucraa Foundation to reaffirm its commitment to excellence in education. The high school sponsorship program in Laâyoune supported over a hundred students.
Initiatives such as the higher education support program facilitated students’ access to competitions and guidance, thus opening up new academic and professional perspectives.
The promotion of the nursing degree contributed to the professionalization of healthcare personnel in the Moroccan Sahara. The Foundation’s active participation in Science Week stimulated the intellectual curiosity of young people and encouraged innovation.
According to the report, the year 2023 also provided the Phosboucraa Foundation with the opportunity to continue its efforts in favor of applied research for sustainable agriculture in the Moroccan Sahara.
In partnership with UM6P and its African Institute for Sustainable Agriculture Research (ASARI), the Foundation supported research on biosaline agriculture, endemic plants, forage crops, and algae exploitation, thus offering new sources of income to local communities and contributing to climate resilience.
Furthermore, the Foundation established certification training to disseminate the results of its research and equip the local ecosystem with the skills necessary for innovative and sustainable agriculture, ensuring a lasting positive impact on the region.
Since its creation in May 2014, the Phosboucraa Foundation has aimed to contribute to the sustainable socio-economic development of the three southern regions of Morocco.
Through four main intervention axes—innovative entrepreneurship, excellence in education, applied research, and support for institutions—the Foundation works to create a positive and sustainable impact on local communities.
It acts in response to the specific needs of local populations, implementing projects adapted to their reality and regional context.
To date, the Foundation’s programs have benefited over 200,000 recipients in the Moroccan Sahara. In collaboration with local stakeholders, the Foundation works to strengthen capacities and develop individuals’ skills, thus contributing to building a better future for young people.