Strengthening Moroccan Civil Society
On 11 October, MRG hosted an interactive networking event for civil society organizations working within the Minorities, Accountability, and Civic Space (MACS) programme. The event brought together Moroccan civil society actors representing various minority and marginalized groups including immigrant communities, Amazigh communities, people with disabilities and LGBTQ activists. These diverse participants share a common commitment: advocating for human rights, minority protections, and a more inclusive civic space in Morocco.
With diverse organizations gathered under one roof, the event sparked discussions on shared challenges restricting the work of civil society organizations; potential collaborations in Morocco and the MENA region; and strategic approaches to strengthening civil society initiatives. Holding a space for civil society actors to meet, discuss and network is vital for organizations who face security and political pressures in the context of a shrinking civic space.
Following these updates from Lebanese and Palestinian grantees, Moroccan organizations presented on their ongoing projects funded through MACS. During an interactive Q&A session, Moroccan partners exchanged ideas on overcoming project-specific challenges, shared resources, and identified synergies for potential collaboration. These conversations established a foundation for future partnerships, creating an opportunity to build solidarity and shared objectives across Moroccan civil society.
One of the event’s focal points was an open discussion on the pressing challenges facing civil society organizations in Morocco today. Participants examined both internal and external barriers that complicate their work and limit their capacity to foster sustainable change. Civil society organizations frequently encounter obstacles in project implementation, stemming from limited human and financial resources. Many organizations operate with constrained budgets and small teams, making it challenging to maintain momentum and achieve sustainable impact.
‘These events will be a bridge to build an alliance or a future dynamic different from the existing ones in Morocco, where it is not easy to combine the topics of Amazigh, disability, diverse gender identities, religious identities…’
The discussion also highlighted capacity gaps within organizations. While many activists have a deep commitment to their causes, they often lack the technical skills necessary for effective advocacy. Conversely, those with strong technical expertise may not always share the organization’s values or vision, creating a misalignment that weakens their advocacy efforts. Participants agreed that bridging these skill gaps is essential for sustainable activism, with capacity-building initiatives emerging as a crucial need for developing a resilient civil society.
Additionally, they face regulatory and political restrictions that complicate their work further. The regulatory landscape can be unpredictable, and political factors often restrict their activities, particularly when they advocate for issues that challenge the status quo. Bureaucratic processes, especially around obtaining or renewing registration certificates for organizations, present significant obstacles. The participating organizations voiced frustration over delays imposed by authorities, who often use this process as a control mechanism to limit civic engagement.
Participants exchanged recommendations and strategies to tackle these challenges. First, they stressed the importance of joint advocacy for civil society rights, specifically in support of the right to assembly and fair registration processes. By drafting a unified advocacy note, participants could present a cohesive message to authorities, urging them to uphold civil society’s right to operate freely and without undue bureaucratic intervention. Such collective advocacy would enhance their leverage and amplify their voices in discussions with policymakers.
Participants also showed strong interest in organizing capacity-building workshops. These workshops would focus on enhancing administrative and financial skills, which are crucial for ensuring strong foundations for sustainable civil society initiatives. Equipping organizations with these skills would enable them to handle bureaucratic challenges more effectively and boost their internal resilience, positioning them to respond proactively to regulatory and financial constraints and to ensure donor support.
To strengthen political engagement, participants proposed establishing regular civil society dialogues on pressing issues facing Moroccan organizations. These dialogues would serve as a forum for knowledge exchange, allowing organizations to stay informed, unified, and prepared to address emerging challenges in the civic landscape.
Additionally, there was broad interest in collaborative funding applications, participants recognized that by working together, they could bring a greater depth of expertise to complex issues, highlighting the importance of intersectional approaches. Collaborative applications would also enable them to pool resources and knowledge, enhancing their capacity to work effectively on issues that are challenging but critically important.
Feedback from one participant representing an Amazigh organization underscored the event’s potential to build new alliances across diverse social issues. ‘It is an excellent experience for me to develop and strengthen relations with other organizations working on topics different from what my work focuses on. These events will be a bridge to build an alliance or a future dynamic different from the existing ones in Morocco, where it is not easy to combine the topics of Amazigh, disability, diverse gender identities, religious identities, etc. My suggestion is to work on the sustainability and continuity of this network.’ The participant highlights how the event can serve as a foundation for more inclusive and interconnected civic collaborations.
Through these discussions, the event laid a foundation for enhanced collaboration among Moroccan civil society organizations, that centre alliance-building, shared learning, and a resilient network ready to address the complex challenges facing Morocco’s civic space.
Featured image: Amazigh women from the Moroccan town of Imider protest against the silver mining corporation Managem, with a banner depicting their fight against as a sister struggle to the fight against the Dakota Access pipeline in Standing Rock, USA. Credit: Linda Fouad.
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