Highlights

The event opened by an address of the Minister Delegate in charge of the Budget.

In the opening speech delivered on his behalf by the Director of Administrative and General Affairs at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Minister Delegate in charge of the Budget highlighted the multidimensional reforms carried out under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, to promote gender equality. This includes the introduction of equality and equity issues into the 2011 constitution, the implementation of public programs and national strategies in favor of gender equality, the integration of the gender dimension into budget programming and its institutionalization within the framework of the new organic law relating to the finance act.

The Minister also highlighted the role of the Center of Excellence for Gender Responsive Budgeting in supporting ministerial departments for the enforcement and the appropriation of the provisions of the Organic Law in terms of taking the gender dimension into account in their programming and budgeting practices, and praised the strong involvement of various departments in this project.

Furthermore, the Minister Delegate recalled the Royal High Guidelines set out in the July 30, 2022 Speech from the Throne, clearly and explicitly emphasizing the need to redouble efforts to ensure the full participation of women in all areas.

Bearing the hashtag #MoveEqualityForward, this event aims to conduct a strategic reflection on public finance as a driver of change for gender equality, and to take stock of the progress of the Moroccan Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) instrument, recognized as a best practice at international level, as well as to analyze the challenges and identify prospects for evolution. The event provided an opportunity to discuss the financing of gender equality, and raise participants' awareness of the strategic importance of the GRB instrument and the involvement of all ministerial players, local authorities and civil society.

Mrs Aawatif Hayar, Minister for Solidarity, Social Integration and Family participated in this opening session in addition to, Mr. Jesko Hentschel, Country Director for Maghreb and Malta at the World Bank, Mrs Susanne Mikhail, Regional Director of the Arab States Office at UN Women, Mrs Patricia Pilar Llombart Cussac, Ambassador of the European Union to Morocco, and Mr Mathieu Vasseur, Regional Director for North Africa at Agence Française de Développement.

This international conference was also well attended by senior officials from Moroccan ministries, ministries responsible for the promotion of women's rights from various MENA and African countries, as well as representatives of local authorities, international organizations and financial institutions, and civil society organizations from various countries in the region.

The first day of the two-day conference was devoted to the presentation of the flagship results of the Center of Excellence for Gender Responsive Budgeting during its 10 years of existence, as well as a high-level panel on the importance of GRB in public finance decision-making.

Technical workshops were held on the second day of the event, focusing in particular on the opportunities offered by public finance reforms for the institutionalization of GRB, on methods and synergies between gender- and climate-sensitive budgeting, and also on territorial experiences linked to local governance and GRB to promote gender equality.

To be noted that this event is part of the road to the 2023 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the IMF, to be held in Marrakech next October, which will include the organization of a number of events dealing with current issues and mobilizing the various parties involved.

Streaming Day 2:

Streaming Day 1: