Cooperatives as a Lever for Poverty Alleviation in Morocco: A Case Study of the Marrakech-Safi Region

Abstract

The fight against poverty in all its forms remains essential and is currently among the top priorities of developing countries in their development strategies and policy roadmaps. Social and solidarity economy, with its values and principles of solidarity and its focus on human well-being, particularly through cooperatives, is fully justified as a means of poverty alleviation in Morocco.

In this regard, cooperatives have gained significant importance in Morocco's socioeconomic development programs and strategies, as well as being one of the most common innovative alternatives in many developing countries to promote the improvement of socioeconomic conditions and living standards of the population. Consequently, this would help reduce poverty and social inequalities (Jaad and Bahmani, 2020), as well as promoting social inclusion by stimulating income-generating activities (Ouanaim and Liouaeddine, 2016).

In general, cooperatives address the needs of populations, whether they are economic, social, or cultural in nature (Kamdem, 2010).

In Morocco, there has been a proliferation of cooperatives, and it is evident today that these cooperatives play a fundamental role in poverty alleviation, especially in rural areas, while also contributing to job creation.

The objective of this article is to demonstrate how cooperatives can effectively serve as a catalyst in the fight against poverty. Our central question is formulated as follows: "To what extent can cooperatives contribute to poverty alleviation?" An exploratory qualitative study was conducted with ten cooperatives in the Al Haouz province of the Marrakech-Safi Region.

Ultimately, the results we obtained through our study allowed us to address the raised issue and provide insights into cooperative mechanisms in combating poverty. Therefore, the conclusions of our research reveal positive socio-economic impacts of cooperative activities on their members, with a particular emphasis on the benefits observed among women, including increased income, greater empowerment, job creation, and an improvement in the quality of life, among other advantages.