Women's Work in Africa's Development

The African continent is undergoing significant changes due to neoliberal development policies, which are further facilitated by promoting public-private partnerships (PPPs) in the context of globalisation. In this landscape, high-added-value natural resources have gained a significant place in the international markets. The concept behind PPP is based on the idea that global companies and governmental actors drive weaker economies towards globalization, creating stable and profitable economies for local and international entities, thereby indirectly contributing to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Women, who are typically the custodians of natural resources and management, are central to the initiatives, as they produce and process these resources. The initiatives have not produced tangible results at the local level, and rural employment remains an issue.

Morocco is not excluded from these processes and has seen exponential growth of PPP in several sectors including agriculture, industry, goods and services, amongst others. Perhaps the most salient example is the global marketing success of argan oil. Although it has generated millions of dollars for multinational companies, it has not significantly benefitted local economies, and multinational companies have yet to demonstrate tangible corporate social responsibility (CSR) at a local level.

Consequently, the social and solidarity economy (SSE) trend has emerged as a solution to buffer for socio-economic stagnation at a local level. Although it focuses on economic, social, and solidarity aspects, promoting the values and principles of solidarity based on voluntary participation and personal initiative, it closely resembles the spirit of cooperatives.

While the interplay between these aspects is complex and the objective is not to review all the complex interactions, the presentation will focus on specific factors related to rural women. I would argue that rural women can significantly contribute to securing sustainable socio-economic development as they respond to specific societal needs.