Gender and inclusion

Our Commitment to Gender and Inclusion

One of the core pillars of the “Generation Green 2020–2030” strategy is the enhancement of human capital, recognized as a key driver for building a more efficient, resilient, and inclusive agricultural sector. This vision places women and youth at the center of the transformation of rural areas and the dynamics of agricultural development.

In this context, the Agricultural Development Agency (ADA) has progressively committed to integrating the gender dimension as a structuring axis of its action. This commitment is now being strengthened through a gender mainstreaming approach, aimed at systematically incorporating gender considerations across all its programs, projects, and institutional processes.

In line with national priorities and Morocco’s international commitments to equality and sustainable development, the ADA strives to ensure equal opportunities, empower rural women and youth, and promote their effective integration into agricultural value chains.

Through this approach, ADA reaffirms its vision of an inclusive agriculture, where women and men have equal opportunities to undertake, innovate, and fully contribute to the sustainable development of rural territories.

Building on this momentum, the ADA continues to strengthen the institutionalization of the gender approach through the implementation of concrete tools and mechanisms, including the development of a Gender Policy and Gender Action Plan, the appointment of a gender focal point, the integration of gender-sensitive indicators into project monitoring and evaluation systems, and the enhancement of women's participation in internal governance.

Gender Policy

Inclusive Governance: Women’s Leadership in Action

The Agricultural Development Agency (ADA) places the promotion of women’s leadership and equal opportunity at the core of its institutional governance. With a significant female representation within its workforce and increasing access of women to leadership positions, the Agency demonstrates its commitment to an inclusive, modern organizational culture that drives collective performance.

Gender in Figures

Key figures

57% of ADA’s total workforce are women;

More than 33% of leadership positions are held by women;

2 out of 5 directorates are led by women;

5 out of 14 division heads are women;

13 out of 28 service heads are women.

Advancing Women’s Participation in ADA Programs (as of end-2025)

Out of 119.929 beneficiaries of solidarity agriculture projects validated during the 2021–2025 period, 21.660 are women and 36.337 are youth;

4.171 rural women have benefited from income-generating activities (IGAs) under solidarity agriculture projects;

2.232 women have benefited from capacity-building programs for local product cooperatives and market access support initiatives;

296 women producers have been integrated into the pilot productive alliances pilot project;

24 young women entrepreneurs have been supported through two editions of the “Agri-Young” competition, organized by ADA in collaboration with UM6P and funded by the World Bank.

The empowerment of women and youth lies at the heart of ADA’s mission

Empowering Women and Youth: A Pillar of the Generation Green Strategy

Convinced that economic and social inclusion is a driver of agricultural performance, the Agricultural Development Agency (ADA) deploys structured and concrete efforts to position rural women and youth as full actors in territorial development.

Solidarity Agriculture

The ADA supports the emergence of women-led and entrepreneurial cooperatives at the national level by providing tailored technical and financial support. This collective approach aims to sustainably strengthen the economic autonomy of rural women and youth by placing them at the center of local development dynamics.

Enhancing the Marketing of Local Products

The ADA invests in the professionalization of women producers of local products by developing their commercial and entrepreneurial skills. It facilitates their access to modern distribution channels (such as supermarkets and solidarity markets) and promotes their participation in major national events such as International Agricultural Exhibition in Morocco (SIAM) and the Moroccan Local Products Competition, thereby enhancing their visibility and economic empowerment.

Aggregation and Productive Alliances

Through aggregation projects and a pilot productive alliances initiative, ADA promotes the direct integration of women into agricultural value chains by creating tangible linkages between local production and private partners. This approach reflects the Agency’s commitment to positioning women as key economic actors and drivers of inclusive growth within the agricultural sector.

Public-Private Partnerships

Recognizing the existing potential for improvement, the ADA is committed to intensifying its efforts to remove barriers that limit women’s access to agricultural Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects and to promote their participation in high-value economic initiatives.

Youth Entrepreneurship

In coordination with ADA, the Regional Directorates of Agriculture mobilize their Regional Centers for Young Agricultural and Agri-food Entrepreneurs to raise awareness and guide youth (particularly young women) toward opportunities in the agricultural sector. Regional Youth Entrepreneurship Commissions support the emergence of a new generation of rural women entrepreneurs by actively facilitating the development and implementation of their entrepreneurial projects.

International Financing and Climate Resilience

Through projects co-financed by the Green Climate Fund, the Adaptation Fund, and other international financial partners, the ADA integrates rural women as priority beneficiaries at the intersection of inclusion and climate resilience challenges. These partnerships enhance the impact, scalability, and sustainability of the Agency’s interventions in support of the most vulnerable populations.