The principle of gender equality in Morocco is stated in the Constitution, more specifically in Article 19. Similarly, the laws of local authorities and the general legal environment confirm that gender equality is a priority for the country. However, following the 2015 regional and municipal elections, the low presence of women in local authorities is a reality. Women are also absent from committee chairing positions and have little involvement in overall decision-making. In fact, equality between women and men is slow to be a tangible reality in Moroccan society. 

The Tazghart association has therefore chosen, through the realization of a diagnosis, to analyze the role of women in elected entities in the territorial communities of the province of Ifrane (Fez-Meknes region). In this context, the diagnosis will examine the indices of women’s participation in local authorities. The aim is to identify opportunities to strengthen and consolidate the role of women in elected institutions by taking local governments as role models. Entities such as the Moroccan Union of Labor, two media, a research center, or the city of Azrou and other local communities will also be involved. These entities will constitute the nucleus of the local cluster of gender equality actors© to be mobilized by Tazghart to develop the diagnosis. 

Thus, several activities are planned in the first semester of 2018, such as a launching seminar, field visits to the headquarters of the various municipalities, interviews with elected women, or the realization of focus groups with members of the board of advisers, in order to study the extent of women’s involvement in positions of responsibility and the functioning of these organizations. 

The Tazghart association was selected following a call for applications launched by the Foundation in 2017 to mobilize the actors of gender equality at a local level (3rd edition) in 2018. The diagnosis on the role of women in the elected institutions of the province of Ifrane will be published in the documentary center of the platform and widely disseminated at a Euro-Mediterranean level. Tazghart’s action is part of the project "Strengthening the capacity of equality actors" funded by the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE) and coordinated by the IEMed in synergy with the FFEM. 

For more information on the local clusters of gender equality actors set up by the Foundation, click here.