Promoting Local Entrepreneurship in Rural Morocco Through Women-Led Cooperatives
Keywords:
women entrepreneurship, rural cooperatives, Morocco, economic empowermentAbstract
Women-led cooperatives in rural Morocco have emerged as powerful instruments for promoting local entrepreneurship and driving socioeconomic development in marginalized communities. This study examines the role of women-led cooperatives in fostering entrepreneurial activities across rural Morocco, analyzing their impact on economic empowerment, community development, and sustainable livelihoods. Through a mixed-methods approach involving 380 women entrepreneurs from 45 cooperatives across six rural regions, the research evaluated the effectiveness of cooperative models in promoting entrepreneurship. Results revealed that women-led cooperatives generated 73% higher income levels for participants compared to individual entrepreneurship, created 2,847 direct employment opportunities, and contributed significantly to local economic development. The study identified key success factors including collective bargaining power, shared resources, skills development, and market access facilitation. Women-led cooperatives demonstrated particular effectiveness in traditional sectors such as argan oil production, handicrafts, and agricultural processing, while expanding into emerging sectors including eco-tourism and renewable energy. The research findings indicate that cooperative models provide sustainable pathways for women's economic empowerment while addressing structural barriers to entrepreneurship in rural contexts. Policy recommendations emphasize strengthening institutional support, improving access to finance, and developing targeted capacity-building programs for women entrepreneurs in cooperative settings.
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Copyright (c) 2023 Pablo Jiménez, Olivia Müller (Author)
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