In the midst of a transformation dynamic, the social and solidarity economy (SSE) is gradually establishing itself as an essential vector for inclusive development in Morocco, supported by an ecosystem of actors committed to creating sustainable and equitable wealth.
This economic model, whose major strength lies in its ability to provide concrete and tailored solutions to local needs, confirms its potential in terms of value creation while contributing to strengthening territorial and social balances.
Whether they are cooperatives, associations, mutuals, or social enterprises, these organizations operate in a wide variety of sectors, always close to the populations, and with a strong solidarity dimension.
This was affirmed by the Secretary of State in charge of Handicrafts and the Social and Solidarity Economy, Lahcen Essaadi, in an interview with MAP, noting that “what makes the strength of the SSE is precisely this territorial anchoring.”
“The projects that emerge from it are often designed by the communities themselves, in response to very concrete local needs,” Mr. Essaadi explained.
These initiatives incorporate a capacity-building dimension, contributing to the development of local skills, and play a key role in the empowerment of women, particularly in areas where access to employment remains difficult, he noted, emphasizing that Morocco currently has 7,874 women’s cooperatives, bringing together 72,910 members.
A growing structuring supported by the State
Through a series of support programs and accompanying mechanisms, Morocco has actively worked to strengthen the structuring of the SSE sector, its professionalism, and its integration into the formal economy.
“To support the rise of the social and solidarity economy and to strengthen its economic and social impact, we have established several support mechanisms that are part of the national strategy and the action plan we are carrying out for the development of this sector,” Mr. Essaadi said.
Among the flagship initiatives, he cited the Moazara program, which contributes to the financing of development projects led by associations, networks of associations, and cooperatives.
As part of this program, 577 projects have been selected to date, nearly 47% of which concern rural areas, with a strong gender approach (about 58% of the projects involve women).
He added: “We have also launched the Tahfiz-Niswa program, specifically dedicated to the empowerment of women through entrepreneurship in the SSE. This program aims to support project holders identified in targeted regions by strengthening their organizational, technical, and managerial capacities, while enhancing their products and services. The goal is also to facilitate their integration into a conducive professional socio-economic ecosystem for their development.”
On the commercialization front, Mr. Essaadi recalled the organization of eight national fairs that brought together 3,231 SSE organizations and thirty-two regional fairs that mobilized 4,978 structures, as well as the establishment of fifty-four traveling markets, with the participation of 3,568 organizations.
These platforms not only help boost sales but also enhance the visibility of the products and know-how of our local actors, the Secretary of State indicated.
Integration into public procurement, a strategic challenge
Moreover, one of the major challenges for the SSE is to move beyond the stage of a niche economy to fully integrate into traditional economic circuits.
“The integration of the social and solidarity economy into public procurement is indeed a strategic lever to strengthen its economic anchoring. Morocco has already undertaken several concrete reforms in this regard, to facilitate cooperatives’ access to public markets,” Mr. Essaadi noted.
On the legislative front, Article 9 of Law 112-12 relating to cooperatives states that registration in the local register allows them to bid on public tenders, he recalled.
He estimated that this legal recognition constitutes an important first step, adding that the most significant evolution remains the introduction of the notion of national preference in Decree No. 2.19.69 relating to public contracts, which explicitly includes cooperatives among the beneficiaries of this preference, alongside small and medium-sized enterprises.
“Specifically, several mechanisms have been put in place. A portion of the annual potential of public contracts is now reserved for cooperatives. In the event of a tie between two bids, the one from the cooperative is favored. Project owners are also required to publish, at the end of each fiscal year, the list of orders awarded to these entities. Contracts can also be divided into lots to facilitate access for smaller structures, such as cooperatives,” Mr. Essaadi detailed.
The Secretary of State also mentioned the measure imposing on a foreign contractor, who has won the contract, to entrust, in case of subcontracting, part of the execution to a cooperative or a local self-employed worker, as well as the one reserving a quota of 30% of the projected annual amount of public contracts for very small, small, and medium-sized enterprises, including cooperatives.
According to him, these reforms pave the way for a more equitable participation of SSE structures in public procurement and contribute to making this sector a full-fledged actor in national economic development.
It is clear that the social and solidarity economy is on the verge of crossing a decisive threshold in Morocco. The ongoing dynamic, characterized by the rise of cooperatives, the feminization of the solidarity fabric, and the gradual opening to public markets, clearly reflects the ambition to make this sector a true lever for economic and social development.
And it is in this perspective that the upcoming National Assizes of the Social and Solidarity Economy, which will be held on June 17 and 18 in Benguérir, under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, are expected to be a key moment.
By bringing together stakeholders around the ongoing structural projects, the 5th edition of these Assizes aims to enhance the visibility of the sector, promote the sharing of experiences, and further anchor the SSE in national public policies.
MAP