Virtual Magazine of Morocco on the Web
Morocco Week in Review 
March 18 , 2006

International Women's Day "Search for Common Ground" honours rural women.
Housing Cities to put resorption of shantytowns as top priority.
Education
Morocco counts 700 tons of outdated pesticides
Only 250 aromatic herbs tapped in Morocco out of its 1,000 species, expert|
Housing Four million Moroccans live in shantytowns.
Thirteenth Annual Maghrebi Area Studies Symposium opens on Thursday.
About USD 280Mn earmarked to revamp and build hospitals in Morocco.
Renewable energies represent 04% in overall power output in Morocco.
FTA allows Moroccan produce access American market, official.
WB soon to announce support program to Moroccan human development Initiative.
Japan donates Moroccan associations USD 300k.
Women's activity rate in Morocco is below 30%.

International Women's Day "Search for Common Ground" honours rural women.
By Kaoutar Tbatou. 3/13/2006

The Moroccan branch of the Search for Common Ground organization (SFCG) held on Sunday a celebration ceremony in Douar Chanti, a village near Kenitra, where women are benefiting from various cultural and social projects launched by the NGO. The event offered the douar's women the opportunity to celebrate, for the first time, the International Women's Day. An exhibition of artifacts, another of caricatures, music shows, and two short plays constituted the programme presented by the inhabitants of the douar themselves. This revealed that the area is rich with talents that only need support and orientation.

The ceremony was held in the douar's Associative Centre which was created in 2004 by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It is home for a range of activities, including literacy and computer courses. SFCG, in collaboration with the local association "Collaboration for Development", decided to honour the douar's women during the ceremony, by attributing a prize to the "exemplary woman", and others to the women who pursued literacy and computer courses with assiduity. On the same occasion, SFCG announced the future creation of a women's advice centre in the douar, aiming to provide local inhabitants with orientation, conflict resolution, and mediation services.

"The role of the mediator is not strange to our society. It is played everyday by each one of us among friends, neighbours, and relatives," explained the president of SFCG in Morocco, Abou El Mahassine Fassi-Fihri, while addressing the audience. "When you go to court, you have just one of two choices: either you win or you lose. With mediation however, both conflicting parties are helped to find a solution in which neither of them loses," explained the programme coordinator of the SFCG's Brussels headquarters, Annelies Claessens, who also attended the event.

The advice centre, due to be officially inaugurated next June, will be run by 15 female diploma-holders originating from the village. They are currently benefiting from a four-month training course provided by SFCG, with the support of the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Morocco. The 15 future mediators are trained in communication, mediation techniques, and women's rights.

"We have learned very valuable things since we started the courses. Now we can inform the douar's women about the rights the Family Code grants them, and we can help them deal with their problems in a positive way," said Fatiha, a holder of a Bachelor's degree in Arabic Literature. The women will soon receive a course in micro-credit and the creation of small-businesses in order to provide those wanting to launch their own projects with administrative advice.

The creation of the advice centre is part of many leading projects launched by SFCG to change the way individuals and institutions deal with conflicts in Morocco, and develop the culture of mediation in the country. A joint programme was launched by the NGO and the Ministry of Justice, in collaboration with the British Embassy in Rabat, with the aim of inserting mediation in the Moroccan judiciary system.

The first phase of the programme (2003-2005) aimed at acquainting Moroccan judges and lawyers with Mediation through the organisation of training workshops, both in Morocco and abroad, as well as outreach events. The collaboration culminated by the signing of a memorandum of agreement in December 2005 between the SFCG and the Ministry of Justice with the aim of laying the foundations for the creation of court-annexed Mediation centres, and developing an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) programme with Moroccan courts.

The second phase (2006) aims at raising the awareness of lawyers and civil society associations of the advantages of mediation as an alternative method for conflict resolution. The phase also aims at reinforcing communication between the Ministry of Justice, lawyers, and civil society. SFCG is a non-profit international NGO based in Washington DC and Brussels. It was set up in 1982 to promote dialogue, collaboration, and reconciliation as alternative methods for conflict resolution. The NGO is active in 15 countries, including Morocco. The Moroccan branch of the organisation was established in 2001.
http://www.moroccotimes.com/paper/article.asp?idr=11&id=13466 
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Housing Cities to put resorption of shantytowns as top priority.

Minister of Housing and Urbanism Toufiq Hjira said that cities must put resorption of shantytowns as top priority. In an interview with the weekly newspaper La Gazette du Maroc, he said that his ministry will not hesitate to suspend the conventions signed with certain cities that do not conform to the agreed bases. "Cities, through Wilaya or commune councils have, first and foremost, to guarantee the control of the proliferation of shantytowns and ensure the social management of relocating families to new houses," he emphasised. "These measures," he added, "cannot be handled by the central administration."

Asked about the norms of construction that can allow the construction of a house at a cost of MAD 120.000, Hjira excluded the revision of the current norms. "Such revision of the norms entails an elaboration of a specific apartment programme. This means that the housing professionals have to introduce new construction technologies with prefabricated material," said the minister.

Concerning the introduction of new construction technologies, he stressed that "it is not for the government to get engaged in buying this technology, and the traditional aid methods are not part of the Moroccan current choice." He concluded that if private operators are holding back on the introduction of technology, foreign investors will not hesitate to pull the carpet from under their feet.
http://www.moroccotimes.com/paper/article.asp?idr=11&id=13471 
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Education

Over half a million people took literacy classes in 2005, Minister Moroccan Secretary of State in charge of Literacy and Informal Education Anis Birou said on Friday that a total of 558,916 people took literacy classes in 2005, MAP news agency reported. Speaking at the annual meeting of his department's external services, Birou called on the concerned parties to step up efforts to achieve the objective of one million beneficiaries per year in a bid to eradicate illiteracy.

He noted that some academies have concluded partnership agreements with the elected authorities in various regions of the country to motivate people to take part in literacy classes. Underlining the role of external services, which are aware of the regions characteristics, Birou stressed the importance of follow up and assessment as efficient means to achieve the fixed objectives. The minister indicated that women account for 80.3% of the people who attended the literacy courses and that 56.2% of them live in rural areas. He added that 33,000 children benefited from informal education courses, 64% of which were girls.

"Morocco is resolved to eradicate illiteracy through the illiteracy-eradication national project aimed at eradicating analphabetism for 5 million Moroccans by 2010. The project also ambitions to reduce the adult illiteracy rate in the age group of 15-41 to 17% in 2010," Birou underlined. The minister noted that 400,000 trainers and about MAD 1.9 billion (nearly USD 220 million), on a five-year period, are needed to achieve these objectives.

Birou emphasised that his department is now mainly focusing on unschooled children aged between 9 and 15, especially little girls, children in difficult situations or living in rural areas. People aged less than 45 years, especially women in rural areas and Morocco's poorest regions, are also targeted, said MAP. Between 2003 and 2004, out of one million targeted 450,335 people registered for literacy classes. Of these people, 273,085 sat for examinations and 233,384 passed them. Women and girls seem to have been the main beneficiaries of the programme, since they represent 73.33% of applicants against 26.67% for men. In addition, rural areas seem to have benefited a little more from the 2003-2004 programme than urban ones since 53.90% of participants came from rural regions.
http://www.moroccotimes.com/paper/article.asp?idr=11&id=13428 
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Morocco counts 700 tons of outdated pesticides
Rabat, 03/15

State firms and farmers across Morocco have in stock some 700 tons of outdated agricultural pesticide, an official source at the agriculture ministry revealed here Tuesday. The source said the accumulated stock of outdated chemicals could be attributed to the significant development the industry has experienced, noting that the volume of sales rose from 4,000 tons in the early 1980s to about 12,000 tons by 2000.

According to the source, Morocco intends to shortly sign an agreement with the World Bank on the launch of an African programme on outdated pesticides (PASP) that would require an estimated 4.5 million euros. The problem of accumulation of outdated pesticides in developing countries, particularly in Africa, poses a threat to the health of the people and environment. Africa has some 50,000 tons of outdated pesticides that have become hazardous toxic waste often stored in extremely precarious conditions, due to an inappropriate management, the lack of coordination or inadequate support from donor bodies, to dispose of them, the source said.
http://www.angolapress-angop.ao/noticia-e.asp?ID=424721 
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Only 250 aromatic herbs tapped in Morocco out of its 1,000 species, expert
Rabat, 16 mars

Moroccan flora counts more than 1,000 aromatic and medicinal herbs, out of which only 250 are tapped, said Patrick Papania, Director of the project on Agriculture Partnerships for Productivity and Prosperity (AP3), at a meeting on this kind of plants and means to develop the produce.
Papania said the sector of aromatic and medicinal herbs contributes to the development of the country, adding free trade accords signed by Morocco represent business opportunities for Moroccan economic players dealing in aromatic and medicinal herbs.

On the occasion of the meeting, held part of the AP3 program sponsored by the American Agency for International Development (USAID), Papania told the Moroccan News Agency the program aims at fostering the aromatic species network in Morocco and reinforce cooperation between the sector's players. He said scientific research in this respect is a must to boost the sector, as well as preserve the herbs' ecosystem and the environment, adding partnership between scientists and the sector's private players is a means to achieve the objective.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/box4/only_250_aromatic_he/view 
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Housing Four million Moroccans live in shantytowns.

Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister in charge of Housing and Urbanism Ahmed Toufiq Hjira said that a total of 4,700,000 people live in shantytowns in different Moroccan cities, MAP news agency reported. "The State, civil society and all the economic and social actors have to mobilise themselves in order to find adequate solutions for housing problems," Hjira said during a study day themed "The Project of the Urbanism Law in light of the Royal Letter of January 18, 2006".

According to Hjira, the study day, which is part of the national debate on the promulgation of the Urbanism Law, aims at defining the orientations of a new policy of urbanism based on the dynamic mobilisation of all the professionals in the housing sector. He added that the architects have an important role to play in modernising the quality,and improving and preserving the architectural patrimony for a sustainable economic and social development. The minister called on renovating old medinas, "90% of them are in an alarming situation."

Hjira highlighted that the new urbanism law constitutes a great social project that will contribute to the modernisation of Morocco. He stressed the necessity to democratise the debate on the urbanism law and organise study days of dialogue on this project with the different actors of the society. The minister affirmed that the adoption of this new law is part of developing mechanisms and tools to regulate the urbanism sector in the Kingdom.

"The new law will contribute to consolidating the proximity policy in order to encourage investment, human development and fighting poverty," he said. Hjira explained that the current legislation regulating the sector does not take advantage of the richness of the Moroccan urban patrimony, such as medinas, ksours and kasbas. This has led to the emergence of densely populated urban and rural zones and an environment of architectural disequilibrium.

Asked about the norms of construction that can allow the construction of a house at a cost of MAD 120,000, Hjira excluded the revision of the current norms. "Such a revision of the norms entails an elaboration of a specific apartment programme. This means that the housing professionals would have to introduce new construction technologies with prefabricated material," said the minister. Concerning the introduction of new construction technologies, he stressed that "it is not for the government to get engaged in buying this technology, and the traditional aid methods are not part of the Moroccan current choice." He concluded that if private operators are holding back on the introduction of technology, foreign investors will not hesitate to pull the carpet from under their feet.
http://www.moroccotimes.com/paper/article.asp?idr=11&id=13519 
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Thirteenth Annual Maghrebi Area Studies Symposium opens on Thursday.
By Bachir Niah. 3/17/2006 Rabat

The Thirteenth Annual Maghrebi Area Studies Symposium for American Fulbright grantees doing research in Morocco, opened on Thursday in Rabat. Organised by the Moroccan-American Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange (MACECE), the symposium brings together a number of American professors teaching at the different Moroccan universities and American students doing research in Morocco, as well as, Moroccan students and university professors.

The event, to close on Saturday, will enable these students and professors to "re-connect with one another and to compare notes on their grant experiences," said Daoud Casewit, the commission's executive secretary, in the opening session. The programme includes presentations by students and professors about the different aspects of Moroccan life. Subjects encompass arts, politics, foreign relations, religion, women, education, jobs etc. Each presentation is commented on and discussed by a Moroccan scholar and specialist, to "provide them with valuable feed-back," stressed Casewit.

For his part, Wayne Bush, Deputy Chief of Mission at the American embassy in Rabat, said, commending Fulbright grantees, "what you are doing will have a great and transcendental impact that you cannot imagine now." Speaking about Moroccan American relations, Bush underlined that they are characterized by partnership spirit and mutual understanding.

MACECE is an autonomous, bi-national organisation based in Rabat that seeks to further mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of Morocco and the United States, by promoting academic and cultural exchanges. It awards merit-based grants to graduate students, university professors, research scholars and secondary school teachers from each country to enable them to study, carry out research, or teach in the other country.
http://www.moroccotimes.com/paper/article.asp?idr=11&id=13551 
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About USD 280Mn earmarked to revamp and build hospitals in Morocco.
Rabat, MAR. 18

MAD 2.8Bn, 1USD is 9 MADs, have been earmarked to the operation of revamping and building a score of hospitals in Morocco, said Health Minister Mohamed Cheikh Biadillah. The move is meant to restore the hospitals in the north African country so as to ensure quality health care and services, Biadillah told the "2M" TV channel on Friday night. The minister said the initiative includes the construction of a new hospital in Skhirat-Temara region, some 20 km south of Rabat, to replace the Sidi Lahcen health center, which is no longer meeting the needs of the region.
Mrs Souad Bennani, Health Ministry Delegate in Skhirat-Témara, said the said hospital has only a 59 bed capacity and has to be revamped to meet construction and equipment standards.

She added the construction works are scheduled for next year and will be conform to the hospital reforms adopted by the country. The north African country is launching the "Santé au Maroc" program aiming to revamp, restore and outfit 21 hospitals throughout the nation. The European Investment Bank pledged in late January USD 85Mn to the project. The funding contract was signed in Rabat by Moroccan Finance Minister, Fathallah Oualalou and EIB vice-president, Philippe de Fontaine Vive.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/box4/about_usd_280mn_earm/view 
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Renewable energies represent 04% in overall power output in Morocco.
Rabat, Mar. 17

Renewable energies represent 04% in the total output of power in Morocco and could reach 10% by 2012, said Moroccan Energy and Mining Minister, Mohamed Boutaleb, adding renewable energy tapping started in the north African country in the eighties and have accelerated in the nineties. Boutaleb told "Finances News Hebdo" weekly this kind of energy has been developed in Morocco through bilateral moves, notably with Germany, stating convention have been signed by Morocco and Foreign partners on plans to help small and medium enterprises, farmers and other users use solar and wind energies. He affirmed the State and various money lenders are backing these initiatives part of the moves to secures sustainable development, adding the State is also encouraging national and foreign investment in wind and solar energy.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/economy/renewable_energies_r/view 
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FTA allows Moroccan produce access American market, official.
Casablanca, Mar. 16

The Moroccan-US Free Trade Zone allows the north African nation's produce access the giant American market, said here on Wednesday Agriculture Minister, Mohand Laenser, adding a special chapter has been reserved to ensure that Morocco set balance, enhance rural development and promote its exports. At a roundtable on Moroccan-American partnership, he pointed out the importance of agriculture in the FTA, enforced on January 1st, 2006, recalling the relevant agreement provides for total customs duties exemption for flower exports and for an 80% reduction for produce like vegetables and fruits.

The Minister noted that for other produce and products, namely cereals and meat, a long transition period as well as protection, exceptional measures have been set in favour of Morocco, adding the approach enables the Moroccan market to open at the pace of envisaged reforms.
Laenser also spoke of the government measures to encourage investment and secure transparency, adding his country has enacted a set of legal mechanisms to fight fraud and protect foreign investments.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/economy/fta_allows_moroccan/view 
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WB soon to announce support program to Moroccan human development Initiative.
Washington, MAR. 15

The World Bank is announcing soon a program consisting in substantial funding to support the Moroccan Initiative for Human Development (INDH), incepted last May by King Mohammed VI consisting in a vast economic and social development program to fight poverty and exclusion. The announcement was made here on Tuesday, at the end of a meeting between WB president, Paul Wolfowitz, and Moroccan premier Driss Jettou, who added a delegation of the world finance institution is expected in Morocco in the coming weeks and is to spell out the pledged amounts to be disbursed part of the WB support program.

Jettou said his meeting with Wolfowitz was "very important",adding Moroccan-WB cooperation is opening new horizons especially in the frame of the INDH, meant to spur the sectors of education, health, housing, water and others. The Moroccan Prime Minister said the WB fully adheres to the INDH, noting however the institution applies conditions on medium income countries less advantageous than to those applied to low income countries. Driss Jettou, who started on Monday a working visit in Washington, had talks with International Monetary Fund Deputy Managing Director, Takatoshi Kato, on cooperation between Morocco and the IMF.

Jettou, who had talks earlier with Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Chief Executive Officer, John Danilovich, said Morocco and the MCC are to sign in a month time a final accord on the Moroccan proposals presented to the corporation part of the Millennium Challenge Account.
A large part of the assistance to be granted to Morocco by the United States part of the MCA will be dedicated to projects in rural zones, according to a statement, in early February, by American ambassador to Morocco, Thomas Riley, who added there is a close link between the objectives of the MCC and those of the INDH.

The MCC that administers the MCA is a U.S. government corporation based on the principle that aid is most effective when it reinforces sound political, economic and social policies that promote poverty reduction through economic growth. Morocco was selected among the 23 countries eligible to apply for MCA assistance for fiscal year 2006. The Moroccan proposals to the MCC are to be finalized by mid-April after earlier consultations on the issue that took place in Rabat and Washington.

The current Jettou-Danilovich talks revolved around integrating new elements in the proposals, such as micro-credits, self-employment, support to small craftsmen and small scale fishermen, as well as the protection of natural resources and the environment.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/economy/wb_soon_to_announce/view 
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Japan donates Moroccan associations USD 300k.
Rabat, Mar. 15

Japan donated on Wednesday four local associations USD 305,842 to carry out social projects. The donation will help finance four projects to provide some rural areas with water and electricity, build schools and equip a disabled persons apparels unit This donation is part of the Japanese government non-reimbursable aid to local micro-projects in Morocco.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/imp_social/japan_donates_morocc/view 
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Women's activity rate in Morocco is below 30%.
Rabat, Mar. 15

Women's activity rate is low in Morocco, as it is below 30% compared to 80% for men, revealed, here Wednesday, High Commissioner for Planning, Ahmed Lahlimi. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2nd international multidisciplinary colloquium themed "Job Market and Gender in Maghreb Countries," Lahlimi ascribed this rate to the historical passivity women have suffered from in terms of access to knowledge and material autonomy. This situation is also due to housework that mobilizes a large part of the female labor force, notably in the rural area, he pointed out. Lahlimi said the Moroccan experience shows that a voluntary policy that adopts social reforms and positive political and institutional discrimination would improve women's social status.

Organized by the Moroccan High Commissioner for planning, the colloquium examines the conditions of women's access to job market in a bid to determine the reasons why this access is more restricted to women compared to men in the Maghreb region as well as in Europe for migrating Maghreban women.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/social/women_s_activity_rat/view 
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