Women Transforming Aquaculture in Morocco

Madrid, May 6, 2026 – On April 29, Rabat became a meeting point for women who are reshaping the future of aquaculture in Morocco. Organized by the National Agency for the Development of Aquaculture (ANDA), the event on female leadership in the sector brought together entrepreneurs, institutional representatives, and key stakeholders around a shared vision: the essential role of women in the sustainable growth of aquaculture.

Under the theme “Female Leadership in Aquaculture: A Lever for Enhancing Work and Sustainable Growth,” the event gave visibility and voice to stories that too often remain in the background. Women who innovate, who lead businesses, and who, from different parts of the country, are helping to structure and strengthen a rapidly expanding sector.

Throughout the event, discussions focused on shared challenges such as access to financing and the need to strengthen professional networks, as well as on concrete opportunities to consolidate the role of women across the aquaculture value chain. The testimonies both personal and powerful highlighted that female leadership is not only a matter of representation, but also a genuine driver of change.

One of the most moving moments of the event was the awards ceremony recognizing exemplary professional trajectories. Among the honorees was Jamila Karoum, awarded on behalf of the Almostakbal cooperative, beneficiaries of the “I+DeAlgas: Women for the Sustainable Development of the Marchica Lagoon” project, which we are implementing in the Marchica Lagoon in Nador. Thanks to this initiative, this group of women has embarked on the production and commercialization process of the seaweed Gracilaria gracilis. Her award stands as a symbol of the collective impact that women-led initiatives can generate within their communities.

This gathering not only celebrated individual achievements but also reaffirmed a shared conviction: investing in female leadership means investing in a more inclusive, more resilient aquaculture sector with stronger prospects for the future.

At the Foundation Women for Africa, we support initiatives like this one, which help highlight the talent, innovation, and transformative strength of African women in key sectors for the continent’s sustainable development.