1. Coopérative Maroc Solidaire Training & Certification (CoMaSec) “An original idea serving the SMD Region”

2. Background The Souss Massa Draâ region is the source of a great wealth of local produce (saffron, argan oil, roses, almonds, honey, prickly pear, olive oil…), making it one of the foremost producers of these commodities in Morocco.

3. A university open to its environment A teacher at Ibn Zohr University in Agadir, Mrs Salma DAOUD, has taken the initiative of instituting a vocational training course which responds to the needs of the region.

4. The idea was born in 2007 at the Science Faculty in Agadir: to create a new occupation which would met the needs of the region by providing technical training for local development.

5. Objective of the vocational training; development of local produce The objective of this training is to create outlets for students capable of launching innovative projects in each local area (students with a strong desire to play an active part in developing the local produce sector), by creating a profitable, sustainable and properly regulated socio- economic enterprise, in a spirit of cooperative teamwork.

6. Why a cooperative venture?

7. Because of the lack of proper training observed during visits to the area, and because of the many problems to which this gives rise (corruption; exploitation of the mainly female workforce; lack of professionalism and training, resulting in non-compliance with accounting principles and H&S regulations, failure to realise full potential, marketing problems…)

8. The students working for the “development of local produce” diploma wanted to set an example by acting as a driving force in regional development. Their idea was to establish a services cooperative to provide training and certification, which would respect the values of ethical conduct, fairness and solidarity as they relate to sustainable development.

9. The reality Thinking about it, we have become aware of the importance of serious intervention to assist professional organisations which, despite State efforts and State aid (support for start-ups, in some cases 100% funding of projects), fail to achieve the results expected of them in terms of marketing their products, on the one hand, and economic and social spin-off, on the other.

10. The team To tackle the wide range of problems involved, CoMaSec consists of a multi-disciplinary team: agronomists, biologists, sociologists, legal experts and economists, all determined to make a success of this new model of socially responsible enterprise, established to serve struggling areas, with a view to making the best possible use of their undervalued assets.

11. Objectives  To provide services to cooperatives and State organisations.  To generate socio-economic activity.  To provide social-enterprise certification for professional organisations.  To provide training and supervision for professional organisations.  To produce technical kits in a framework of partnership.  To sub-contract training and management projects.

12. Missions  Surveys, training, support and consultancy  Labelling, certification, quality control  Supporting the creation of solidarity-economy organisations/enterprises  Organising forums, seminars (events management)  R & D (coordination)

13. Visions  Promoting the social and solidarity economy and a sustainable form of development which makes high-quality products/services available to local people.  Creating a sustainable development dynamic through promotion, certification and supervision, resulting in accessible products which attract attention (act as a beacon).  Respect for the values of the social and solidarity economy and of sustainable development.

14. Customers Moroccan - International Cooperatives Set up to produce local products OCE Marketing and Exports Office Maroc Taswiq OCE’s marketing brand INDH/NIHD National Initiative for Human Development Maroc Solidaire (REMES) Registered label guaranteeing quality of local products Partnerships - REMESS - SMD REGION - IBN ZOHR University MOROC CO CoMaSEC Coopérative Maroc Solidaire training & certification

15. Experience Territorial diagnoses: 1. Aït Baha District, from 07 to 11 March 2011. 2. Tafraout District, from 21 to 26 April 2012. Activities and tasks performed  Interpretation of the landscape of the area under study  Small-group surveys of local operators  Discussion of prospects and scenarios for local development  Feedback to local operators (population, authorities)

16. Future prospects -CoMaSec is also considering creating a “Maroc Solidaire” brand to standardise the labelling arrangements and legibility/visibility of products sold under the Maroc Taswiq umbrella. -CoMaSec is also intending to use its resources and experience to take part in establishing projects connected with eco-tourism and geo-tourism.

17. A services cooperative, driving force in sustainable development CoMaSec