Lalla Al Moutaâouina National Award: 31 Women-Led Cooperatives awarded
Lalla Al Moutaâouina National Award In Morocco: 31 Women-Led Cooperatives granted a prize of 50.000 MAD each!
Morocco – Rabat, Tuesday, April 15, 2025 – The State Secretary in charge of Handicrafts And The Social And Solidarity Economy (SEASS), affiliated to the Ministry Of Tourism, Handicrafts, And The Social And Solidarity Economy(MTAESS), and the Office of Cooperation Development (ODCO), organized the 6th edition of the National Prize “Lalla al Moutaâouina” award on April 15, 2025, at the SEASS headquarters in Rabat, awarding 31 women-led Moroccan cooperatives
Dedicated to honoring the most innovative initiatives by Moroccan women-led cooperatives, this year’s edition, themed “Women’s Cooperatives Building a Better World”, aligns with Morocco’s national momentum for the International Year of Cooperatives 2025 (IYC 2025), proclaimed by the UN and officially launched in Morocco on February 27th, 2025.
A jury of experts selected 31 winning cooperatives from 388 entries nationwide, recognizing projects that blend creativity, sustainability, and socio-economic impact. Each winner received a financial grant of 50,000 MAD, supported by a public-private partnership involving SEASS, ODCO, and key institutional and private partners and sponsors
In his opening remarks, Mr. Lahcen Es-Saady, State Secretary in charge of Handicrafts and the Social and Solidarity Economy emphasized, “The Lalla Al Moutaâouina Award reflects a vision where women in cooperatives are not just economic participants but pillars of sustainable development.”
Ms. Aicha Errifaai, ODCO’s General Director, noted, “This edition holds special significance as it coincides with the UN’s International Year of Cooperatives, amplifying the award’s role in empowering women cooperators.”
Since its launch in 2020, the award has recognized 159 cooperatives out of over 2,000 applications, with winners growing from 14 in 2020 to 31 in 2025, underscoring its rising impact on women’s cooperative entrepreneurship in Morocco.
