Although people under the age of 25 account for 43% of Morocco’s population, there are very low levels of youth representation in public life, especially in government decision-making. Young people in Morocco often feel ignored by the political system, leading to disinterest and disconnection. Political apathy is prevalent as young Moroccans do not see the relevance of politics to their daily lives. In addition, limited access to information about political issues and the political process makes it challenging for them to participate. It is vital to enhance youth involvement in decision-making, rebuild their confidence in public institutions, and support policies that address their critical needs.
Please join the Middle East Institute and the North African Policy Initiative for the first in a series of roundtables on Morocco. We will convene a panel of on-the-ground experts from Morocco to examine why young people are so disinterested and reluctant to engage in politics, as well as to determine the relevant contributing factors.
Speakers
Hatim El Otmani
Founder, Atlas for Development (A4D)
Zakaria Kadiri
Professor of Sociology, Université Hassan II de Casablanca
Imane El Ouizgan
Assistant Professor in Management, Ibn Zohr University
Perry Demarche, moderator
Social Policy and Migration Research, North African Policy Initiative
Detailed speaker biographies
Hatim El Otmani
Hatim El Otmani is the founder of a youth-led NGO, Atlas For Development (A4D), that empowers youth and women to reinforce their civil, socio-economic, and cultural rights through sustainable and inclusive projects.
Zakaria Kadiri
Zakaria Kadiri is a political scientist specializing in rural youth and their integration into the Morocco economy from 2010 onward. He is currently coordinating a major survey on rural youth, a subject on which he is now a key reference in Morocco and internationally. In addition, he has conducted studies on the issue of student violence and youth participation in local development.
Imane El Ouizgan
Imane El Ouizgan is an assistant professor of management at Ibn Zohr University. Her work focuses on issues of gender, economic inclusion, and youth and women’s capacity building for employability. She has worked on various projects related to employment, youth, and women in Morocco and has a thorough knowledge of the national actors and structures related to her field of expertise.
Perry DeMarche
Perry DeMarche is an advisor to the North African Policy Initiative. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree at the London School of Economics. Previously, she was program manager at NAPI in Tunis and for the Ethnographic Field School and Center for Language and Research at Dar Si Hmad, an NGO in Agadir, Morocco. She led youth exchange programs in the MENA region with World Learning and has nine years of experience working with refugee and immigration NGOs in the United States.
About the Morocco roundtable series
Morocco faces significant socio-economic and political tensions in the wake of the pandemic, repeated droughts, global inflation, and an enduring economic crisis. There are significant regional disparities within the country and insufficient mechanisms for social protection. Unemployment remains high, particularly among youth, degree-holders, and women, and droughts contribute to soaring food prices. To ensure Morocco's stability and development in the future, it is crucial to implement comprehensive policies addressing issues such as youth inclusion, climate change, migration, women's rights, and local governance. Through this roundtable series, young Moroccan activists, researchers, and practitioners will engage in discussions on these critical policy areas.