Casablanca will host the AI FOR IMPACT 2026 event on April 10, 2026, dedicated to exploring the potential of artificial intelligence in enhancing the actions of civil society organizations. Organized by EPIK Leaders in partnership with the Moroccan School of Engineering Sciences (EMSI), the event will take place on the campus of Honoris United Universities, alongside GITEX Africa.
This meeting will bring together NGOs, public institutions, funders, tech companies, impact startups, researchers, and media to explore practical applications of artificial intelligence in the nonprofit sector.
The goal is to examine how AI technologies can help associative organizations to improve their efficiency, enhance transparency, and increase their capacity for action in a context where social needs are growing and funding models are becoming more complex.
Artificial Intelligence as a Tool to Strengthen NGO Impact
Civil society organizations face several structural challenges: an increase in project calls, heightened reporting requirements, competition for access to international funding, and the need to demonstrate the real impact of their actions.
Artificial intelligence can offer new solutions to address these issues, particularly through:
- Automated analysis of project calls
- Improvement of reporting and impact measurement
- Optimization of communication and resource mobilization
- Assistance in structuring and managing associative projects
- Eased access to international expertise and funding
According to Dr. Nizar Chaari, founder of EPIK Leaders, AI could become an important lever for amplifying the impact of civil society organizations, provided they can access the necessary tools and skills.
A Platform Dedicated to Funding Impact Projects
Among the initiatives presented at the event is NOVAI – Network of Opportunities for Value, Aid and Innovation, a Dubai-based platform that uses artificial intelligence to help NGOs and social enterprises access international funding more easily.
The platform particularly enables:
- Identification of relevant funding opportunities
- Assistance in structuring and writing project proposals
- Expert guidance throughout the application process
According to its founder, Feryal El Moghraby, NOVAI aims to prevent high-impact projects from remaining unfunded due to lack of access to information, tools, or expertise.
A Dialogue Space Between Technology and Civil Society
The AI FOR IMPACT 2026 program will include several key activities, such as:
- An institutional conference on the challenges of AI for civil society
- A panel featuring NGOs, startups, and artificial intelligence experts
- Demonstrations of tools and concrete use cases
- An interactive Q&A session
- Networking opportunities among sector actors
The event also aims to encourage new collaborations between public institutions, tech companies, and associative organizations.
Concrete Tools to Support NGOs
Beyond discussions, the organizers intend to produce several deliverables aimed at supporting civil society organizations, including:
- A policy brief
- A mapping of major AI applications for NGOs
- A charter of best practices for responsible AI use
- A list of pilot projects to develop with partners
These efforts will be grounded in three essential principles: technological neutrality, respect for ethics and data protection, and accessibility of tools to small associative organizations.
