Kingdom
Female leadership: We4She calls for structural transformation
The We4She network brought together decision-makers and experts around the urgent need for structural transformation in favour of women’s economic inclusion, in a country where only 19% of women are economically active and 13% of businesses are led by women.
The Moroccan association network We4She, which brings together women leaders committed to strengthening women’s presence in decision-making bodies, held its annual conference on Wednesday, 20 May in Casablanca.
The event brought together leading figures on issues of female leadership and economic equality, including Marie-Pierre Rixain, a French MP and author of a law aimed at accelerating economic and professional equality; Myriem Noussaïri, UN Women Morocco representative; Houda Chafil, Deputy CEO of CIH Bank; and Jamal Belahrach, CEO of DEO Conseil.
From awareness to structural transformation
Speakers emphasised the urgency of moving beyond awareness-raising towards deep structural transformation—not as a symbolic goal, but as a lever for economic performance and national competitiveness.
The figures illustrate the scale of the challenge. Morocco has one of the lowest female labour participation rates in the MENA region, at 19%. Only 13% of Moroccan companies are led by women, and the country ranks 137th out of 146 in the Global Gender Gap Report 2024.
On this occasion, We4She presented its advocacy paper aimed at accelerating women’s economic inclusion and strengthening their presence in decision-making spheres. This document, based on in-depth analysis and concrete proposals, seeks to inform public debate and drive a dynamic of sustainable transformation.
The conference also featured the presentation of the “Gender Diversity Champion Company 2026” award, which recognises, among signatories of the We4She Charter, the company that has achieved the greatest progress in gender diversity indicators between 2024 and 2025.
Polydesign Systems, a leading industrial player in the automotive equipment sector, received this award. The company stands out notably with 60% women engineers and 43% women in management positions.
To date, more than a hundred companies, including major Moroccan groups, have signed the We4She Gender Diversity Charter, committing voluntarily to integrating concrete gender diversity measures into their governance. Three new signatories were officially announced during the conference.
A memorandum of understanding between We4She and UN Women
On the sidelines of the event, a memorandum of understanding between We4She and UN Women was signed by their respective leaders, Soumaya Benjelloun and Myriem Noussaïri. This partnership commits both organisations to collaborate on women’s economic inclusion and the measurement of diversity practices within companies, by pooling their expertise, tools, and networks in support of high-impact initiatives.
