vations developed within the framework of each project thanks to partnerships with public and non-public actors. “Remarkable results have been achieved in terms of human and social capital development, targeting and empowering of rural women and youth. Important results relate also to the infrastructure development through the implementation of more than 530 Km of irrigation networks and management of 14500 ha of plantations and crops and to the improvement of production techniques and yields”, underscored Ms. Dina Saleh, Regional Director, NEN, IFAD. During the 12 years (2009-2020) considered by the evaluation, the socioeconomic situation of Morocco has improved and the incidence of poverty has decreased significantly. Nevertheless, the grip of poverty remains high in rural areas, particularly in IFAD’s geographic areas of focus, where it stands at 9.5%, compared to 1.6% in urban areas. This, notwithstanding that the agricultural sector employed 38.7% of the labour force in 2017. Challenges thus remain, and call for increasing actions towards women and youths, strengthening rural organisations sustainably, as well as a more proactive involvement of IFAD in the formulation of agricultural policies and strategies. Looking forward, workshop participants focused on avenues through which rural organizations of women and youth may evolve into modern agricultural entrepreneurs, and discussed opportunities for mobilizing external partners in order to further support and upgrade agriculture systems in disadvantaged and less attractive geographical areas. “The recommendations emphasize the sustainable and sustained development of agricultural production systems, in line with the promotion of local agricultural produce, by women and youth, and sustainable access to interesting markets, in partnership with the private sector”, noted Fabrizio Felloni, IOE Deputy Director.
Mohammed Achaari and Rajaa Alem, joint winners of the 2011 Arabic Booker Prize @wikimedia_commons
Moroccan Poet wins 2020 Argana International Poetry Prize* Moroccan poet, Mohamed Achaari, has won the 15th annual Argana International Poetry Prize for the year 2020. Achaari’s works “have contributed for more than four decades to the consecration of writing as resistance by widening the spaces of freedom in language and writing through a poetic practice placing freedom at the center of its interests,” Morocco’s House of Poetry said in a statement. The poetry commission said Achaari’s poems have helped to free up spaces and language in Morocco in favor of “values and in the interest of life.” The poet was born in 1951. He studied law and administration and held several positions in political and cultural journalism. His work includes several collections, including “Journal du feu et du voyage” (Journal of fire and travel), “Biographie de la pluie” (Biography of the rain), and “Le livre des fragments” (The book of fragments). Morocco’s House of Poetry launched the award in partnership with the Capital Private Equity (CDG), and the Ministry of Culture. The award seeks to pay tribute to artists by recognizing their contributions to society. *source: moroccoworldnews.com 9
