2012年-世界发展银行全球_Promoting_Youth_Opportunities_and_Participation_in_Morocco_4页_738kb

MENA Knowledge and Learning Quick Note: Promoting Youth Opportunities and Participation in Morocco

Core Content

This Quick Note, published in June 2012, is based on a report prepared just before the Arab Spring, focusing on the challenges and opportunities for youth in Morocco. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the barriers young people face in accessing employment and participating in civic life, and offers recommendations for more effective youth policies and programs.

Main Points and Key Findings

Youth Demographics and Economic Exclusion

• Youth (15–29 years) constitute 30% of Morocco's population and 44% of the working-age population.
• Despite their large numbers, they are largely excluded from the economic growth of the past decade.
• The youth unemployment rate is high, with 22% among males and 38% among females.
• A significant portion of unemployed youth have little or no education, with only 5% having tertiary education.
• The majority of youth in the informal sector work without contracts, benefits, or job security.

Gender Disparities

• Gender disparities in employment are pronounced across all age groups.
• Young women are often discouraged from working due to social norms and family expectations.
• Despite this, many young women, especially tertiary graduates, express strong expectations of working.

Private vs. Public Sector Employment

• About 50% of youth are employed in the private sector, while only 5% have public sector jobs.
• Self-employment is rare among youth, despite expressed interest.
• Youth feel they have little control over their economic future and require support beyond education and skills.

Civic and Social Participation

• Youth participation in civic and social activities is low, with most time spent on unstructured personal activities.
• There is a lack of productive civic engagement opportunities such as volunteer work.
• Few institutions provide recreational or social activities, leading youth to rely on the internet and social media.

Challenges in Youth Programs

• Vocational training is in high demand but suffers from limited coverage, especially among disadvantaged youth.
• Common constraints include:
  • Fragmented services due to lack of coordination.
  • Under-resourcing and inadequate staffing.
  • Poor facilities and lack of necessary equipment.
  • Insufficient use of partnership mechanisms.
  • Minimal focus on poverty and disadvantaged youth.

Key Recommendations

Promoting Employability and Entrepreneurship

• Develop integrated employment programs with links to labor markets and entrepreneurship.
• Expand the role of private sector intermediation and certification to support less educated and poorer youth.
• Use models like the "Jovenes" programs in Latin America and the Ecole de la Deuxieme Chance (E2C) in France as examples.
• Include ICT training, which offers opportunities for less formal learning and reduces labor market entry barriers.

Restructuring Youth Centers

• Implement a new model for Youth Centers (Maison des Jeunes) that integrates life and social skills, active participation, and employability support.
• Strengthen partnerships and fundraising capacity.
• Improve beneficiary targeting and outreach.
• Introduce robust monitoring and evaluation systems.

Reforming Foyers Féminins

• Invest in and reform Foyers Féminins to better support young women.
• Improve facilities and program content in coordination with other public and NGO services.
• Better define target beneficiaries to ensure inclusivity and effectiveness.

Enhancing Youth Participation in Programs and Policies

• Encourage youth involvement in the delivery and monitoring of services.
• Provide stipends or allowances to incentivize participation, especially among unemployed and low-income youth.
• Strengthen youth participation in the development and implementation of national youth policies.
• Promote co-management models similar to those in European countries, where youth are recognized as equal stakeholders.
• Support initiatives like the Conseil Local des Jeunes and Programme Concerte Maroc to create youth councils at the local level.

Conclusion

The report emphasizes the need for a more strategic, integrated, and inclusive approach to youth development in Morocco. It calls for systemic reforms, stronger partnerships, and a focus on disadvantaged youth to improve their employment prospects and civic engagement. These recommendations align with the government's ongoing youth strategy and offer a roadmap for meaningful social and economic inclusion.

Contact Information

• Laura Tuck, Director, Strategy and Operations, MENA Region, The World Bank
• Regional Quick Notes Team: Omer Karasapan and Roby Fields
• Tel: (202) 473 8177

Note: The MNA Quick Notes summarize lessons from Bank Knowledge and Learning activities and do not necessarily reflect the views of the World Bank, its Board, or its member countries.