Women's cooperatives in the Gharb: an overlooked resilience lever

For two decades the Gharb plain has hosted a dense network of women's cooperatives active in the dairy, beekeeping and fruit-and-vegetable processing sectors. Despite their role in stabilizing agricultural income, these organizations remain under-studied and poorly represented in official statistics.

This study draws on fifteen case studies conducted between 2021 and 2023. It analyzes cooperative trajectories, internal governance and support schemes (ADA, INDH, ODCO). Three main findings emerge: the centrality of women over 40 in leading these organizations, persistent financial fragility despite substantial public support, and the importance of hands-on, local technical training.