Morocco’s political institutions have not been responsive to or inclusive of youth, leaving Moroccan youth feeling disengaged and unrepresented in civic and political life. To combat this perception, demonstrate government responsiveness to youth concerns and encourage youth engagement in political and civic processes, IRI partnered with Moroccan civil society organizations (CSOs) to advocate for youth’s needs and priorities to political leaders and candidates ahead of the 2021 Moroccan general election.
With funding from the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, one CSO, Association Choulaa for Education and Culture, used skills gained during IRI’s program to successfully advocate for the reopening of the local youth center in Tiznit. In early 2020, the Moroccan Government closed youth centers across Morocco, including in Tiznit, to help mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic. While some youth centers were allowed to reopen, the Tiznit youth center remained close, which negatively impacted local youth. Using skills and techniques learned during IRI trainings, the Association Chouala Association for Education and Culture conducted targeted outreach and advocacy through meetings with Morocco’s Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication and Members of Parliament (MPs) to advocate for the reopening of a youth center in their community. As a result of this advocacy, the CSO, MPs, and Ministry officials jointly developed an action plan to reopen the center and then worked together to follow the action plan. The youth center in Tiznit reopened in 2022 and serves as an example of how government can be responsive to and inclusive of youth priorities.
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