U.S. Policy & Issues

Morocco and MEPI

Funding: FY02 through FY 04 combined funds were approximately $20 million for MEPI programs in Morocco. Morocco participates in the following programs:

Economic Pillar

Trade/ FTA Support – In 2004, the U.S. and Morocco concluded a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA). In 2003 - 2004, MEPI placed more than $10 million in assistance to support the negotiations and to assist Morocco with tackling the challenges of implementation and seizing the opportunities.

Of that amount, $2.5 million has been allocated toward Trade Capacity building. The Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) of the U.S. Department of Commerce will use $1.0 million to provide expert assistance to identify the changes required in Moroccan laws and regulations to bring it into compliance with its obligations under the FTA. The remaining $1.5 million has been divided among the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the U.S. Customs Service and the Environmental Protection Agency to support a variety of classroom and on-the-job technical assistance programs. Examples include: participation in an IPR Enforcement Academy in Washington, prosecutorial training on IPR issues, on-the-job training and implementation of an automated tracking system for Customs officials in Morocco, codex standards for food safety inspectors and an intensive environmental assistance program for the leather industry.

An additional $2.5 million was placed to support business development particularly SMEs. With nearly $3 million, the International Executive Services Corp (IESC) is working to help Moroccan businesses identify market opportunities in the United States. The program has been underway for over a year, and three Moroccan companies, who had not exported to the U.S. sent their first shipments in the fall of 2004. $500,000 is being used by the NGO Aid to Artisans to help rural Moroccan craftsmen market their goods both in country and the surrounding region.

An additional $1 million was included in USAID's new strategic program for Agriculture. The program will promote land reform and more specifically land ownership and title issues.

Partnership for Financial Excellence – The Financial Service Volunteer Corps (FSVC) has set up an office and is conducting a series of workshops with the commercial banking sector to improve risk management and SME access to finance; with the Central Bank to modernize commercial bank supervision and regulation; and with the Casablanca stock market to improve operations and pension fund management. In addition, Treasury, in an effort to combat money laundering, will be sending advisors periodically to work with the Moroccan Central Bank. Its $4 million regional program will spend up to 25% of its resources in Morocco.

Entrepreneur programs- Morocco has sent a large number of participants to the Meet U.S. program and the Business Internship Program. Selections for Meet U.S. concluded in September 2003 and over 75 percent of the candidates from Morocco were women. Similarly in the Business Internship Program, there were two Moroccan candidates, one at Frito-Lay in Plano, Texas and a second at Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati, Ohio. An Entrepreneurship Center is slated for Morocco, partnered with Al Akhawayn University. The Beyster Institute is implementing this program.

Political Pillar

Elections Assistance – Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES): MEPI funded IFES with FY03 $287,000 to assess the political climate and technical capacity for democratic elections in Algeria, Bahrain, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, Qatar and Yemen. The assessment results will form the basis for a draft regional strategy. IFES provided MEPI with assessments for Morocco following a successful visit.

Democratic Strengthening - Parties – Morocco participates in a MEPI Regional program of totaling $11.5 million. The Morocco share of this program is $2.345 million, ($1.25 for the International Republican Institute (IRI), and $1.1 for the National Democratic Institute (NDI)

Legislative Strengthening

• Center for International Development (CID) of State University of New York (SUNY): MEPI provided $2 million to USAID Morocco for strengthening parliamentary processes awarded to CID SUNY in 2004. The three-year program focuses primarily on strengthening committee processes and increasing the capacity of the parliament to review, adopt and monitor the national budget. The program budget is approximately $3.6 million, with the additional $1.6 million to be provided by USAID.
• National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL): MEPI granted $900,000 in 2003 –2004 to NCSL to provide parliamentary training and exchange programs in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Lebanon. NCSL supported parliamentary staff participation in the 2004 Réseau Africain des Personnels des Parlements (RAPP) General Assembly in Madagascar in August 2004, aiming to link Francophone MEPI countries into African parliamentary systems. In December, NCSL provided U.S.-based training for parliamentarians/staff in state capitals Sacramento and Frankfurt, and Washington DC, and Savannah for the NCSL Fall forum. In April 2005 NCSL will plan a Regional Parliamentary Workshop for staff, in Algiers or Beirut, a Regional Parliamentary Workshop for members, in Rabat or Beirut in November 2005, and technical assistance visits and participation in 2005 NCSL and RAPP annual conferences.

Enhancing Corporate Governance – In 2005, MEPI will provide a proposed $1.9 million to the region for the promotion of transparency, rule of law, and protection of shareholders’ rights.

Judicial and Legal Reform – MEPI has funded a regional program valued at $2 million, implemented by the American Bar Association (ABA). ABA has established an office in Rabat and has completed programs in 2004.

Open and Pluralistic Media – Moroccan Journalists, media professionals, and media lawyers are receiving training in journalism and business skills, as well as advocacy training to work more effectively with parliamentarians and other organizations. This is part of a five-country program based out of Internews' office in Lebanon.

Educational Pillar

Functional Literacy for Women – Literacy and Skills training projects – Women’s literacy programs administered through USAID Rabat.

Creating Child-Centered Schools - Education program for preschool and early primary school children implemented by Children's Resources International (CRI).

Arab Civitas – Public awareness of civic rights and responsibilities through civic education programs in primary and secondary schools that promote an understanding of and commitment to democratic values. One of this year’s projects in Morocco was training for teachers of "Project Citizen," worked on by more than 800 students. In June 2004 the Board of Directors of Arab Civitas elected their first president, Mr. Elarbi Imad from Morocco.

Student Leaders – Regional program for high school and college student leaders. The five-week program includes study of U.S. society and values, volunteerism, and leadership skills.

University Linkages – Montana State University has recently been awarded a grant to work with Al Akhawayn University (Morocco) to enhance professional level teaching of information and communications technology.

Women's Pillar

Moudawana outreach program – The Moudawana project, implemented by World Learning, is designed to raise awareness among rural Moroccan women of their rights and responsibilities under the new family law ("Moudawana). The project has public policy advocacy, outreach, and networking components and is designed to empower women by incorporating NGO networking strategies.

MEPI Small Grants

In Morocco, MEPI has directly funded initiatives by domestic NGOs and civil society organizations that support Morocco's reform efforts.

U.S.- Morocco FTA Website – This website is part of a public-private, Moroccan-U.S. partnership outreach effort to educate both U.S. and Moroccan businesses about the bilateral free trade agreement (FTA). The American Chamber of Commerce FTA website has been the primary source of information on the FTA for businesses, NGOs, journalists, and even GOM and USG officials. The AmCham has designed and launched the site; MEPI provided funds for operating expenses, maintenance, translation, and website registration. The website directly supports the U.S.-Morocco FTA.

The New Family Law (Moudawana) Explained Through Theatre Play – The Rabat Branch of the Moroccan Women’s Forum in collaboration with theater Aquarium is launching an awareness campaign through theatre to sensitize rural, urban, and working-women and men about reforms to the Moudawana. The project aims to convey better awareness of the articles of the family code and to clarify the discrepancies that lie within wrong interpretations and misunderstandings of the code, which cause tensions among men and women and among family members.

Fondation Tanger al Madina – This grant supports the activities of Fondation Tanger al Madina, a Moroccan NGO. This NGO provides literacy classes and technical training (sewing) for an underserved community of women in Tangier. The NGO also helps women find employment and develop a sense of local community.

Right to Education in Rural Areas – This grant supports Association Zaouite Ouzdine de Culture d’Art et de Sport (AZOCAS) in the province of Zagora to provide vocational training for rural girls and to reduce St. Ouzdine’s high rate of illiteracy. The association seeks to integrate rural women into the process of civil society development and has successfully managed projects reaching peasants, students, women and children.