GIZ and We4She Launch INEFF Initiative to Promote Gender Equality in Morocco
In a significant move towards fostering gender equality within Morocco's economy, Germany's development agency GIZ has partnered with the Moroccan leadership network We4She to unveil the INEFF initiative, which stands for 'Inclusion économique des femmes dans les secteurs du futur'. This program was launched during the recent GITEX Africa 2026 event in Marrakech, where it called for Moroccan companies to express interest in integrating gender equality practices into their core operations. This initiative is crucial as it directly tackles one of Morocco's longstanding issues: a female labor force participation rate that is alarmingly low, ranking among the lowest globally, despite years of dedicated public policy efforts aimed at addressing this challenge.
Selected companies under the INEFF program will benefit from a comprehensive three-part support package designed to facilitate the integration of gender equality within their operations. The first component involves a thorough diagnostic assessment of the current gender practices within the organizations, allowing them to identify areas for improvement. The second component provides tailored operational coaching, enabling these companies to develop and implement actionable strategies that align with their specific sector and scale. Finally, the most tangible aspect of the program is the financial support of up to 250,000 dirhams, which can be utilized for various initiatives, including targeted skills training programs and the establishment of on-site childcare facilities. This financial backing aims not only to enhance female participation in the workforce but also to create an environment conducive to their professional growth.
Focus on High-Growth Sectors and the Role of We4She
The sectors targeted by the INEFF initiative are those projected to be the engines of economic growth over the next decade, particularly renewable energy, information technology, agri-food processing, and logistics. GIZ’s broader gender and employment program in Morocco, in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills, has consistently highlighted that these high-potential sectors also face significant gender access barriers, which can be structural, cultural, or regulatory in nature. By focusing on these sectors, the INEFF program aims to create a more equitable landscape for women in the workforce.
We4She, established by a group of nine Moroccan businesswomen and an offshoot of the pan-African Women Working for Change movement, brings essential credibility and a vast executive network to the initiative. This collaboration enhances GIZ’s institutional framework, creating a robust implementation model that has historically been absent in previous gender inclusion efforts. The combination of German development finance, meticulous program design, and Moroccan private sector advocacy positions the INEFF initiative for greater success in promoting gender equality at the firm level.
The choice to launch this initiative at GITEX, Africa’s largest technology and innovation forum, was particularly symbolic. It underscores the interconnectedness of gender inclusion and the development of Morocco's digital economy. The overarching goal of the INEFF program is not merely to increase the number of women in existing positions but to fundamentally reshape the internal cultures and practices within Moroccan companies, fostering an environment where inclusion is sustained and self-reinforcing rather than merely dependent on policy mandates.
As reported by northafricapost.com.
