Implemented by MSI, the USAID-funded Morocco Civil Society Advocacy Project (SANAD) was launched in June 2009. The project works to strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations to play a greater role in the country’s process of political liberalization and democratic reform through advocacy and networking. Some national Moroccan civil society organizations have made significant strides in recent years to play a meaningful role in public affairs. However, most organizations, especially at the local level, have had little success in influencing change because of limited resources and effectiveness. The project provides organizations with training and technical and financial assistance. It has three main focus areas: youth, education and local governance.

SANAD, meaning “support” in Arabic, will use innovative methods to strengthen the capacities of civil society organizations, foster linkages and create synergies between organizations to reinforce their role as a “third sector.” This sector will ideally serve as a voice for Moroccan citizens, particularly marginalized and disaffected groups like the young and the poor.

In Morocco, 55 percent of the population is under 25 years old, less than half of all youth make it to high school. In addition, 30 percent of the country’s youth are unemployed. SANAD supports organizations that work for youth to network, advocate and generate greater attention and commitment to their needs.

SANAD also works with parent-teacher associations and local communities to mobilize and foster greater debate and dynamism within middle schools in an effort to improve the quality of education, which remains a major challenge.

Finally, SANAD works with local governments to develop civil society participation in local development planning, programming, service delivery and critical issues such as housing, sanitation and public transportation.

In all areas, SANAD invests in e-applications and e-advocacy to generate more efficient networking, greater access to information, and the emergence of e-communities around public affairs.

The SANAD team currently includes 12 staff based in Morocco’s capital, Rabat. SANAD works at the national and local levels in three regions, including Fès-Boulemane, Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaër and Doukkala-Abda. The project targets primarily urban and suburban areas, where youth are at greater risk and urbanization brings challenges to local governments.

While in the start-up phase, SANAD has already conducted important work to produce national and regional advocacy mapping and foster discussions between the government and civil society organizations. The team has also developed a partnership with the Ministry of Social Development and the Agency for Social Development to join efforts in implementing the Ministry’s Takwia (“reinforcement”) program to build civil society capacity.

SANAD is planned to run through May 2012, with two additional option years.

Click here to view the project website in French

Click here to view the project website in Arabic

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