The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved €100 million in funding for Morocco to implement the Support Program for Inclusive Solidarity Agriculture for Women and Youth (PAASIFEJ).
The project aims to create sustainable opportunities for women and young people, enhance food security, and better prepare small-scale Moroccan agriculture to face the challenges of climate change.
It will promote youth and women entrepreneurship in rural areas through the implementation of tailored financing and incentive mechanisms, and the strengthening of technical and financial support systems. It will also facilitate the deployment of new agricultural production and service infrastructure, reinforcing the integration of women into local value chains, boosting their skills, and increasing their productivity.
All these actions are designed to foster the emergence of women entrepreneurs in the agricultural, agro-industrial, and digital sectors. The initiative will support the new employment roadmap by promoting rural entrepreneurship.
"Women who aspire to become successful entrepreneurs in agriculture are our priority,” stated Achraf Tarsim, Country Manager for the African Development Bank Group in Morocco. "With this new operation, we will support them step by step in building a modern, inclusive, and resilient agriculture sector, capable of unleashing the full potential of those who aim to innovate and create value and jobs in their regions.”
Fully aligned with Morocco’s national priorities, the program will support the implementation of the Green Generation 2020–2030 Agricultural Strategy – the national vision for transforming agriculture into a more inclusive, sustainable, and high-performing sector – as well as the National Solidarity Agriculture Program and the National Youth Entrepreneurship Program, according to the institution’s website.