Strategic Dialogue in Morocco Charts Course for Cooperative Development in NENA Region, AYSDN Plays Key Role
Morocco – January 30, 2025 – The “Strategic Dialogue on Cooperative Development for Rural and Agrifood Systems Transformation in the Near East and North Africa Region” concluded successfully in Morocco, marking a pivotal moment for enhancing the role of cooperatives in addressing agricultural challenges across the NENA region. The Arab Youth Sustainable Development Network (AYSDN), represented by Executive Director Mohammed Alyatari, played a significant role in the discussions, emphasizing youth engagement and innovative solutions.
The three-day dialogue, held from January 28-30, 2025, convened policymakers, cooperative leaders, and stakeholders to foster an enabling environment for sustainable rural development, food security, and inclusive growth. Agricultural cooperatives were recognized for their crucial contributions to small-scale family farming and the regional economy, particularly in tackling water scarcity, soil degradation, and market access.
AYSDN Highlights Youth and Inclusion
Mohammed Alyatari actively contributed to sessions focusing on the inclusion of women, youth, and indigenous peoples in cooperatives, as well as transforming vision into practice through inspiring models and peer learning. He shared success stories of youth and women cooperatives, including dairy and cheese production, coffee farming, and Yemeni honey production. Alyatari emphasized the importance of:
- Inclusivity: Integrating marginalized groups to develop effective, community-driven strategies.
- Peer Learning: Facilitating knowledge and experience exchange among cooperatives for innovation and improvement.
- Strategic Partnerships: Strengthening collaboration between public and private sectors for sustainable financing and development.
Key Outcomes and Recommendations
The dialogue yielded several key outcomes, including:
- Enhanced awareness of the vital role of cooperatives in regional agricultural development.
- A collaborative framework for strengthening the cooperative movement.
- A compendium of best practices in cooperative development.
- Emphasis on youth and gender inclusion.
- Recognition of the need for strategic government-cooperative partnerships.
Key recommendations from the dialogue include:
- Developing inclusive policies that target women, youth, and indigenous peoples.
- Establishing capacity-building programs focused on innovation and sustainability.
- Creating knowledge exchange platforms for cooperatives.
- Strengthening regulatory frameworks to support cooperative development.
- Promoting research and development on the impact of cooperatives.
- Supporting the adoption of digital technologies and agroecological practices.
- Fostering long-term partnerships between governments, cooperatives, and development organizations.
- Building a Roadmap for Sustainable Development
The dialogue laid the groundwork for a roadmap towards sustainable development aligned with the 2030 Agenda. Participants demonstrated a unified vision for advancing cooperative development and addressing regional challenges.
” One of the workshop organizers stated: “The participation of AYSDN was invaluable in highlighting the critical role of youth in advancing sustainable agricultural practices. The insights and recommendations from this dialogue will be useful in strengthening cooperatives across the Near East and North Africa region.”
AYSDN reaffirms its commitment to continuing its engagement with partners to achieve sustainable development goals and build a more resilient and equitable future through cooperative action