A special event held in the provincial city of Azilal on the occasion of International Women’s Day has highlighted the growing role of female entrepreneurship as a driver of local development and economic empowerment in one of Morocco’s most rural regions. Organized under the banner of the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH), the gathering brought together institutional partners, local associations, and women who have benefited directly from state-backed support programs.
Hosted by the Al Intilaka Association for Development, Environment and Culture at Azilal’s Youth Platform, the event carried the theme “Female Entrepreneurship: An Investment for a Sustainable Future.” It featured dialogue sessions, interactive workshops, and a series of firsthand testimonials from women who launched their own projects with INDH support — sharing both the obstacles they faced and the transformation that professional autonomy brought to their lives.
Issam Ben Assou, head of the social action division at the Azilal provincial prefecture, emphasized that International Women’s Day should serve not only as symbolic recognition but as a moment to act concretely on women’s economic inclusion. He noted that INDH has placed income-generating activities and entrepreneurship support at the heart of its third program cycle. Jawad Wakoun, representing Al Intilaka, reinforced the message, calling investment in women’s skills an essential pillar of durable social and economic development. The Anapec employment agency director also stressed the need for stronger inter-institutional coordination to improve women’s and young people’s access to both employment and self-employment.
The event underscored a broader provincial ambition: to transform support for female entrepreneurship from political rhetoric into a measurable development strategy — expanding access to financing, specialized training, and technical guidance to make women a productive force at the heart of Azilal’s local economy.
