SEED – Promoting green entrepreneurship in Morocco

Significant measures have been taken in Morocco to address vulnerabilities to climate change, seize opportunities in green economic sectors, and accelerate the transition to a sustainable and inclusive economy. Despite these measures, challenges continue to exist in the form of high unemployment rates – particularly among women and youth – and the need for investment into eco-innovation. These challenges are particularly pronounced in regions outside of Morocco's economic centres, where poverty rates are twice those of the national average.

Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), constituting 95% of the Moroccan private sector and 75% of employment, play an important role in driving inclusive sustainable development. To reach scale, however, MSMEs require non-financial and financial support to start and scale their businesses. SEED promotes green entrepreneurship in Morocco to unlock growth pathways for MSMEs that develop and commercialise eco-innovations in green sectors such as mobility, waste management, and clean energy, and to create green jobs for marginalised populations. In particular, support will be provided to MSMEs located outside of the Tangier-El Jadida axis, where the majority of entrepreneurship support is currently provided. Building on the success of previous and ongoing SEED activities, this project will leverage existing toolkits, methodologies and approaches to support over 200 entrepreneurs in replicating and scaling green business models, creating and maintaining direct and indirect jobs, and generating positive environmental impacts such as waste reduction and reduced CO2 emissions. Through engagement with the entrepreneurship ecosystem, case studies and impact assessments, the project will contribute to knowledge and programmes targeted to enterprise support and supporting the role of MSMEs in accelerating the green transition at a local level.