ECONOMIC GROWTH:

Reduced Barriers to Trade and Investment 

Sustained economic growth is critical if Morocco is to absorb new entrants to the workforce, thereby addressing the priority issue of Morocco’s growing youth population. The Economic Growth program will focus on improving Morocco’s economic competitiveness by removing barriers to trade and investment, supporting key policy reforms that allow for sustained economic growth, and improving the efficiency of water use and management for increased agricultural growth and productivity. The program will also work to improve the capacity of key government institutions to implement these policies, and support public-private partnerships to advance the relevant policies and promote workforce development opportunities, especially for youth.

INVESTING IN PEOPLE:

More Relevant Education and Opportunities for Youth

USAID’s strategy for education programming reflects unique niches for youth assistance and is based on a two pronged approach.  The first prong will target in-school youth through improvements to education quality and relevance aimed at the crucial middle school years in an effort to enhance educational attainment and stem the tide of youth dropping out of school.  The second prong of education assistance will target the youth that have never had access to formal education or have left the formal education system before completion. It will focus on providing out-of-school youth, aged 15-24, with access to educational opportunities that support their full and productive participation in society, including basic education competencies, IT, and life skills enhanced by vocational training programs offered through public private partnership initiatives. 

GOVERNING JUSTLY AND DEMOCRATICALLY:

Increased Participation of Citizens, Especially Youth, in Governance

In Democracy and Governance, USAID’s new strategy is built around citizen participation in civil society, political parties, local governance, and the justice sector. Each of these areas offers opportunities to engage youth, as well as other segments of society, in order to bring a broader array of groups into public life. More effective representation of citizens’ concerns and increased accountability in the justice system,, combined with improved transparency and efficiency at the local level will lead to a more democratic and participatory governance. 

Expected results

USAID/Morocco envisions that upon the completion of the activities under the five-year assistance objectives, Morocco’s youth will be more engaged in local government decision making, political party activities and civil society; civil society will be more actively engaged in regular dialogue with government; local government will be more transparent, accountable, and effective, and political parties will better represent citizen concerns.

Morocco’s administrative regions will be actively implementing high quality education models that are more relevant to the lives of the youth. Morocco’s out-of-school youth will have increased educational and employment opportunities as well as positive engagement in civil society.

Key enabling environment policies will be advanced for trade and investment; improved water management will lead to agricultural growth; and there will be an increase in public-private partnerships leading to greater youth training and employment opportunities.