Empowering Collaboration for Collective Impact in Morocco
The fifth edition of the WeXchange Forum took place on October 22 in Casablanca, drawing a diverse array of participants from various sectors including public, private, non-profit, academic, and the social innovation ecosystem. The theme of this year’s forum, "Collaborate to Make an Impact," set the stage for meaningful exchanges aimed at transforming collaborative efforts into powerful vehicles for collective impact across Morocco.
This event was organized by the Abdelkader Bensalah Foundation and featured a dynamic program that included master classes, discussion circles, and interactions among practitioners. The forum explored the vital conditions needed to evolve from sporadic partnerships to long-term collaborations capable of driving sustainable transformations. Jamal Belahrach, during his keynote speech, emphasized the importance of moving beyond individualistic approaches to foster a shared ambition among Moroccans: "Morocco is not lacking in initiatives, talents, or energy; what we sometimes lack is the ability to converge these resources around a common goal."
Throughout the discussions, several structural challenges facing impact actors in Morocco emerged. Participants highlighted the need for enhanced shared governance, mobilizing sustainable funding, fostering territorial anchoring of initiatives, and increasing community involvement. Saïd Jabrani, CEO of TAMWILCOM, pointed out that financing is not an end in itself, while Pauline Effa, General Coordinator of FORA’ESS/ONG PFAC, stressed the importance of developing ecosystems that promote complementarity among stakeholders. These insights were further deepened through master classes and discussion circles, showcasing the necessity of building bridges between public authorities, businesses, associations, foundations, funders, universities, and local actors to translate common ambitions into concrete and sustainable actions.
Recognizing Social Innovation: The Moroccan Social Innovation Awards
The spirit of collaboration culminated in the Moroccan Social Innovation Awards (MSIA) 2026, which were presented at the conclusion of the forum to honor impactful solutions already making a difference in communities. Following a rigorous three-month selection process structured in four stages, six initiatives were recognized for their contributions.
The Grand Prix MSIA 2026, supported by the Abdelkader Bensalah Foundation, was awarded to the Association of Young Creators (AJCMAROC) for its project focusing on educating rural girls about reproductive health in the Guelmim-Oued Noun region. Other awards included the Culture Prize, given to the Dar Bellarj Foundation for its "Talented Mothers Workshop"; the Environment Prize, awarded to the Khnifiss Association Network for its ecotourism and climate resilience project around Khnifiss National Park; and the Inclusion Prize, given to the New Generation Surf Association (ANZA) for its Surf Amal program, which utilizes surfing-related professions to foster economic inclusion for youth. The Education Prize was awarded to the Sanady Foundation for its JODOOR+ program aimed at helping struggling primary school students. Additionally, the Jury’s Favorite award recognized the Association of Creativity Pioneers for their project on community management systems.
The MSIA not only shines a light on these initiatives but also aims to enhance their capacity to strengthen their actions and amplify their impact. The winners will receive financial support of 200,000 DH, access to a post-award acceleration program, and networking opportunities at both regional and national levels with various partner organizations. The involvement of patrons and cross-sector partners, in collaboration with category-specific partners, will further enhance this support framework and open new perspectives for the awarded projects. In concluding WeXchange by acknowledging tangible solutions, the Abdelkader Bensalah Foundation clearly connects the awards to the broader themes of the forum—thinking critically about collaboration conditions while spotlighting actors who are already translating these ideas into real-world impacts.
As reported by ecoactu.ma.
