Moroccan government to work more closely with NGOs
2008-07-24
The Moroccan government is developing closer ties to the country's NGO community, in a bid to help organisations fill gaps in the social sector.
By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 24/07/08
 [Sarah Touahri] Minister of Social Development Nouzha Skelli announced last week that the Moroccan government will provide accreditation, funding and training assistance to certain NGOs. |
Social minister Nouzha Skelli announced last week that the Moroccan government plans to work closely with NGOs in order bolster their work in the social sector. Speaking on July 19th at the seventh in a series of workshops between NGOs and the Ministry of Social Development, Family and Solidarity, Skelli said that the main focus of her ministry's strategy is a programme to accredit the non-governmental organisations.
"To date, around 1,600 organisations have expressed interest in the accreditation process," she said, "with the aim for 2008 to bring the number up to 2,000. Participation in the accreditation process is voluntary and involves signing the charter of ethics and receiving the status of privileged partner."
Skelli added that although the social work undertaken by NGOs is laudable, the sector is better known for the quantity of its organisations, rather than the quality of their services.
The accreditation process, she said, allows the government to better understand NGOs' activities, assess their strengths and weaknesses and contribute to their development as professional organisations.
Abdelhamid Makloum, a member of the Association for Rural Development, welcomed the move.
"NGOs need accreditation ... to enable them to manage development projects properly," he commented.
NGOs that successfully apply for and receive accreditation will be eligible to receive grant money, the social minister added, for use on government-designated social development projects.
The financial support would be provided only after signing detailed agreements with the ministry. The agreements would set out conditions for aid payouts and the ways in which the money can be spent.
A number of NGO representatives, welcomed the initiative, showing no sign of concern that the financial aid offered by the government would affect their independence or integrity.
"I don't think the government will exert any pressure on NGOs operating in the social sector," said Makloum. "Officials need robust, professional organisations to help them address gaps in the sector."
Skelli identified several other initiatives designed to bolster the NGO sector.
She said that the government is developing training programmes in social work in order to provide the job market with staff familiar with social intervention and capable of steering development projects.
She also said the government was working to create networks of NGOs based on their geographical location and areas of focus.
And finally, she added that civil-society leaders are considering plans to create a national-level authority to oversee all issues relating to the work of NGOs. Specifically, the authority would comment on draft laws and regulations affecting the sector and propose measures to support the organisations' development.
"Everyone has agreed that this authority should be set up," Skelli noted.
"We're now having more in-depth discussions to arrive at a consensus on how to implement this plan."
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armelle charles Posted 2008-07-31
Thank you, Madame Minister. I think that the state'™s involvement in financing and supporting such organisations will always give it a certain legitimacy in its actions. I hope that Franco-Moroccan organisations will see the light of day thanks to this new encouragement. I am a social worker in France and I am in favour of encouraging such types of involvement which drive the desire to do good. Professionalising the training seems important to me in order to make the projects effective and to make the operations become permanent. In making such a choice, Madame the Minister is moving towards a real partnership and creating a recognised entity as well as an enormous opportunity to finally integrate the social and professional realms to the benefit of all. Organisations recognised as such will be more effective, and the people will work in the field on these truly professional projects. It is not enough to just have a heart; you need to be the guarantor of ethics and know-how. And, the state must equally be a guarantor of their functions. This might be a good dynamic. This is a way to legitimize itself and to provide a framework for operations that make sense. Pay attention all the same to the by-products and be careful to not fall under the control of the government. From this point of view about this news, we should open the social market and build Morocco up with social-education projects for the young people and women. Bravo to this new effort!
jaidi Posted 2008-08-06
The provincial development organisations in the province of Haouz congratulate all efforts made for development and good governance at all levels.
Mohamed EL BAKI Posted 2008-08-11
With regards to the Morocco that is on the right path, of which I often speak, Moroccan NGO’s as well as the NGO’s trained by the RMEs are good for the country. They are numerous and diverse. They have goals, skills and ideas on the cultural and socio-economic level and, of course, for our industrial development in Morocco.
بيداح baidah agadir inzegan اكادير انزكان Posted 2008-08-25
Honesty, lies and proficiency in fraud. What if I set up a political party, a civil or professional association or a trade union? What if I say that I will eradicate illiteracy, reduce the rates of poverty, unemployment, inflation and sustenance? What if I say on the other hand that I will achieve the highest rates in social security and services? What if I distributed tonnes of promises since promises don’t create an obligation according to legal customs? What if I have followers, we run for coming elections? But I will impose on them the condition to be honest in their lies and skilled in their fraud. It is the game of survival of the fittest. The strongest is the most fraudulent, the best liar and deceiver. What if things remained as they are during the elections? We remove the ‘a’ in ‘Nazaha’ (fairness) and it will become ‘Nouzha’ (stroll). Credibility will be transferred to retirement. Transparency will apply for a voluntary departure. The right will just be embellishing the most beautiful page in the memory book. Justice will become some kind of a rare animal or plant. But what if we fail as a party, association, trade union or organization in the absence of the element of experience and the inability to play in the face of such elements? What if we insist on returning to repeat the same experience since the whole thing is very easy? We just have to read the book How to build a party, association, trade union, organization in five days without tutor. But ultimately, isn’t the period of elections the period during which entente and peace are widely spread among rich people? They are influential people who put their hands on their belts complaining of the effect of satiety among millions of lightweight people who also put their hands but they complain of the effect of hunger. Isn’t this a good time for the elected members of society to pay alimonies to some of the people they have plundered? So let’s raise our hands to heaven and say Oh Lord make it come again every year or even every month so that the empty pockets and starved bellies will be filled up. We will finish with the expression of this afflicted with a catastrophe, then we can say “From God we are and to God we shall return”. Excuse me. I wish to every party, association, union and organization success for us, our country and the whole world without exception. We just need communication and fraternity for the future of our planet the Earth. We mustn’t forget the town of Inezgane which has offered a lot in the associations work since 1977. It deserves tribute from organizations, associations and parties.
محجوبي Posted 2008-09-10
The main feature stirred my curiosity and I want to present my opinion about the topic. Firstly, does the partnership with the government mean absorbing non governmental organizations and putting them under the prior and subsequent control and supervision? One government sector, railways, have already followed this method. It has welcomed trade unions which are civil society operators; everyone hailed the so-called social partnership. Social parties have become supporters of the administration, protectors of its abusive decision and skilled dodgers of workers who inquire about their social fate in that sector. Everyone who dares oppose or make observations which don’t satisfy administrative officials will be marginalised, will receive the worst sanctions, deprived of privileges… As evidence to what I said is the attitude towards militants of the Democratic Organization of Railways who have addressed letters to the prime minister, minister of employment, minister of transport, the general director of ONCF and the president of the Advisory Council of Human Rights who received a delegation including members of the executive board of the Democratic Organization of Labour and members of the ONCF. Unfortunately, no one is heeding their claims. Sanctions are still continuing and psychological pressure is the language of dialogue between central or local officials. Sanctions and harassment are worsening everyday. We are tired of addressing national officials. Shall we address foreign organisations to make pressure on the governments and restore the rights of these strugglers?
association amis sans frontieres Posted 2008-09-22
I represent the “Friends without Borders” organization. We would like to collaborate with your website. Thank you, Hamid Lamfaddel, president (http://asf.blogs.fr)
omar Posted 2008-12-20
I think that women cannot carry out the requirements of the public opinion. This is what can be said.
Hassan SAMOUDI Posted 2008-12-31
Hello- I represent FOCOM, an educational NGO for the development of Eastern Morocco. We ask that your project director help us establish relations with your honourable embassy and offer us your collaboration, support and direction. Here is our website: www.focom.c.la. This will give you more information on our activities. We await your response. Please accept my sincerest respects, Mr Director.
Abdelmalek Posted 2009-01-14
As the founder of a French-Moroccan organisation for the promotion of social development and solidarity, we can but rejoice in such a call for partnership. Experiences are had in order to be shared. Reinforced by mutual competencies, we can do so many things for the path to social democracy. Often, the solutions are simple. What is complicated is having cordial understanding and altruism! Greeting to everyone! God willing, let us be supportive of one another in 2009!
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