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Morocco World
a day ago
- Business
- Morocco World
World Bank Grants $250 Million to Reinforce Morocco's Social Protection
Rabat – Morocco secured financing from the World Bank as it advances a large-scale reform of its social safety nets. The institution's Board of Directors approved a $250 million financing package to support the country's Support to Strengthening of Social Safety Nets for Human Development Project. The funding comes as Morocco rolls out the Direct Social Benefit (DSB) program, which the government introduced in late 2023 as a cornerstone of its broader reform agenda. By March 2025, the program had already reached over 3.9 million households across the country, providing cash assistance and linking families to essential services. The World Bank's new package aims to reinforce this approach. It will help improve the way Morocco delivers aid to the poorest families, while also creating pathways for economic inclusion. Ahmadou Moustapha Ndiaye, the World Bank's Director for the Maghreb and Malta, pointed to Morocco's achievements in reducing poverty, which fell to 3.8% in 2022. But he also acknowledged that many households remain vulnerable to shocks. 'Morocco has made notable strides, yet many families still lack the tools to withstand economic disruptions or take part in the job market,' Ndiaye said. 'This program opens the door for people to invest in education, access care services, and seek out work, particularly women and youth.' Morocco has made steady progress over the past two decades in lifting living standards and extending public services. But the road ahead remains challenging. High unemployment, weak female labor force participation, and widening rural-urban gaps continue to weigh on the country's ambitions for equitable growth. Morocco's unemployment rate has witnessed a slight decrease of 0.4% in the first quarter of 2025, falling from 13.7% to 13.3% compared to the first quarter of 2024, according to Morocco's Higher Commission for Planning (HCP). Yet, this decrease is still far from satisfactory. The World Bank project will support the National Agency for Social Support (ANSS), which manages the DSB program, in tightening coordination across ministries and boosting the efficiency of benefit delivery. At the core of the initiative is a citizen-focused model that seeks to connect public spending with measurable outcomes, such as more children in school, better health coverage, and stronger ties to the labor market. With support from international partners, Morocco hopes to build a safety net that gives people the means to move forward. Tags: Morocco economysocial protectionUnemploymentworld bank
Morocco World
06-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco Launches Major National Family Survey for 2025
Rabat — Morocco's Higher Commission for Planning (HCP) has launched a National Family Survey 2025, which will run on the ground until the end of September. The survey targets 14,000 households across Morocco's urban and rural areas, covering all regions of the country. Researchers aim to gather crucial information about the structure, organization, and dynamics of Moroccan families. This survey will help us understand the significant changes Moroccan families have experienced over the past three decades, according to a statement from HCP. It aims to gather data to develop effective policies. The study will examine how family transformations affect demographic, socioeconomic, and cultural behaviors throughout Morocco. Officials expect the findings to provide an integrated database that will support policy development in social development, intergenerational solidarity, education, housing, and equal opportunity initiatives. The HCP guarantees confidentiality for all personal data collected during the survey process. The commission urges selected households to participate fully in this national initiative, pointing out that their input will contribute to a better understanding of family realities in Morocco. Read also: 88.9% of Moroccan Families Report No Ability to Save as Living Costs Rise Results from the survey will help authorities create family policies that address the concrete needs of the population. This comes at a time when Moroccan society continues to balance traditional family structures with modern social changes. The previous national family survey in 1995 documented important baseline information, but officials recognize that Moroccan families have undergone substantial changes since then, making updated research essential for effective governance. The initiative is part of Morocco's effort to understand the shifts that shape Moroccan families, the causes, and the repercussions. HCP organized the country's 7th General Census from September 1 to 30, 2024, aiming to provide detailed insights into Morocco's demographic and socio-economic landscape.
Morocco World
05-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco Creates 282,000 Jobs in Early 2025, Unemployment Rate Drops to 13.3%
Rabat — Morocco's unemployment rate has witnessed a slight decrease of 0.4% in the first quarter of 2025, falling from 13.7% to 13.3% compared to the first quarter of 2024, according to Morocco's Higher Commission for Planning (HCP). The report attributed this decline to the creation of 282,000 jobs in the Moroccan economy, which is a significant turnaround after the country lost 80,000 positions last year. The report details that urban areas witnessed a more significant improvement as unemployment decreased by 1 point to 16.6%, with 285,000 new jobs. Meanwhile, rural areas experienced a slight loss of 3,000 jobs, marking a slight increase of 0.5 points to 7.3%. The total number of unemployed people in Morocco decreased by 1% to 1,630,000. This includes 40,000 fewer unemployed people in urban areas, partially offset by an increase of 25,000 in rural regions. As for the rate of unemployment among genders, men's unemployment rate dropped by 0.5% to mark 11.5%, while women's unemployment decreased slightly by 0.2% to reach 19.9%. Youth unemployment presents a mixed picture. The rate for young unemployed people between 15-24 rose by 1.8% to stand at 37.7%. However, other age groups saw improvements, with unemployment among people between 25-34 falling by 0.8% to reach 21.2%. For those aged 35-44, there was a 0.5% drop to reach 7.5%. People aged 45 and older experienced a decrease of 0.6% to attain 3.9%. For graduates, unemployment fell by 0.9% to 19.4%. This decrease was most pronounced among technical certificate and middle management diploma holders, with 3.9% to 24%, and vocational qualification graduates, with 3.6% down to 21.9%. Read also: Morocco Households Brace for Inflation, Job Instability Despite Slight Uptick in Confidence Despite the overall drop in unemployment, underemployment increased across Morocco. The number of employed people in underemployment situations rose from 1,069,000 to 1,254,000 nationwide. The underemployment rate increased by 1.5% nationally to 11.8%, with rural areas seeing a larger jump of 2.3% to 14.8%, compared to a 1% increase to 10% in urban areas. Workers experiencing insufficient hours increased from 576,000 to 664,000 people nationwide, with the corresponding rate rising from 5.6% to 6.3%. Meanwhile, those facing inadequate income or mismatches between training and employment grew from 493,000 to 590,000 people, with the rate jumping from 4.8% to 5.6%. Economic sectors saw rising underemployment rates, with the construction sector, already suffering the highest underemployment, seeing the biggest increase of 3.6% (from 19% to 22.6%). The construction sector was followed by agriculture, forestry, and fishing with a 2.3-point increase from 12.1% to 14.4%, manufacturing jumped from 6.3% to 7.3%, and services with a 0.7% increase from 8.3% to 9%. These figures demonstrate Morocco's continued economic recovery and job market resilience, despite ongoing challenges in the agricultural sector and youth employment. Tags: HCPhcp reportUnemploymentUnemployment in Morocco
