Reporting and reminder program of a meeting we organized as part of the thesis of K. Janatni to Ibn Tofail University in Kenitra. The meeting attended by prominent American personalities aimed to promote the Moroccan-US cooperation especially in territorial development projects with particular attention to the issue of gender equity.
Report on the Mentoring Outreach in Kenitra on 07-26-2017
This was a two hours meeting at the university Ibn Tofail featured by the presence of a diverse audience including a distinguished selection of faculty, deans, associate professors, Past-President of Kenitra Chamber of Commerce, Regional Director of CGEM (Confédération Générale des Entreprises du Maroc), HR representative from Lear Corporation, President of the AMIST “Association Marocaine d’Intelligence et de Stratégies Territoriales” and a US representation by the Women Mentoring Program.
This was an outreach event of the Women Mentoring Program to discuss US-Morocco cooperation opportunities in Kénitra and an inspiration from the American model promoting gender parity and putting academia at the center of its development.
This event was held at the University as an attempt to access the territory of Kénitra from an academic door and have the government, industry and scholars meet up around one table.
After several relevant and pertinent points discussed by guest speakers, there was an open discussion on the gender topic with the purpose of integrating the idea in applicable common projects. The academic background approach of the topic relative to Territorial Intelligence was addressed by university representatives. This event was also an opportunity to expose certain practical projects as suggested by the regional participants. All visions converged towards human resources empowerment and gender parity.
In fact, there were common interests in some projects being currently implemented by PAS, USAID and MCC, mainly in educational and professional trainings for the youth while taking into account gender parity. This was a perfect timing for Networking between all participants that were interested in the same type of actions in the region. The US representatives exposed their programs, their experience in different past and current projects and their vision on perspectives for partnerships in the region. They were all interested in an outreach of their programs in the region for future partnerships and mentioned their interest in working with the region of Kenitra. In fact, the city is a great potential environment for partnership, witnessing a significant economic growth coupled with major government development actions.
It was a good open exchange opportunity. It was also a good start for future cooperation that has emerged from peer to peer contacts. All participants agreed that this meeting is a first step towards a more continuous work of cooperation for the region.
This session was a workshop to highlight the gender dimension in the current exponential growth. It also triggered a constructive thinking towards a common vision that values exchange and cooperation as a way of implementing sustainable growth in the long run. And who knows, this first meeting might make a difference in the regional sustainable development programs and might touch the lives of women, youth and all population in the region.
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Mentoring Outreach Meeting: Morocco-USA Cooperation
• Location: Executive building of Ibn Tofail University – Kénitra.
• Date and Time : 07.26.2017 . From 14:00 to 16:00.
• Subject: Cooperation between Morocco and USA
• Audience: Mid-level, total of 30 people.
• Language: French / English. Presence of a professional interpreter.
Abstract
This is an outreach event of the Women Mentoring Program to discuss US-Morocco cooperation opportunities in Kénitra and an inspiration from the American model promoting gender parity.
The American model is positioning academia at the center of its development. This event is held at the University as an attempt to access the territory of Kénitra from an academic door and have the government; industry and scholars meet up around one table.
One of the questions that will be discussed is :
How to implement above ideas within the development strategies of the Territory and how to support related projects?
PARTICIPANTS
US Embassy – Rabat
Brenda Van Horn, Senior Commercial Officer in Morocco, US Department of Commerce
Eva Coffey, Public Affairs, Embassy of the United States in Morocco
LeAnna Marr, Program Office Director, USAID Morocco
Monahan, Carrie, MCC Deputy Resident Country Director
Melissa Dombrock, Major, USAF, Olmsted Scholar, UIR
US Embassy members of the «Women’s Mentoring Program »
Regional Representation
Dr. Azeddine El Midaoui, President of Ibn Tofail University, Kénitra.
Dr. Mounir Jerry, FSJES, Ibn Tofail University, Kénitra
Dr. Aziz Mridekh, FS, Ibn Tofail University, Kénitra
Dr. Jaouad Dabounou, FST, Hassan Ist University, Settat
Mr. Riad Cherrat, President of AMIST « Association Marocaine d’Intelligence et de Stratégies Territoriales »
Mr. Ahmed Mrabet, Past-President of the Chamber of Commerce – Kénitra
Mr. Hamid Ettadlaoui, Director of the Chamber of Commerce – Kénitra
Mme Rajaa Belfkih, Regional Director of CGEM Rabat-Salé-Kénitra
Mr. Mohammed Chaamouri, HR Coordinator, Lear Corporation.
AGENDA
14:00 Participants Arrival
14:05 Introducing guests / Greetings / Photo
14:10 Event Starts: Word of the President of Ibn Tofail University, Kénitra
14:15 Word of the Past-President of the Chamber of Commerce, Kénitra
14:20 City tour documentary: « Kénitra, A vibrant city » by IWOA “4mn”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6L28lYGbMUI
14:25 Presentation of a comparative research by Soumia Hajbi, Hassan 1st University, Settat.
Territorial Intelligence in Medium Cities of Morocco
14:30 Presentation of a research project by Kawthar Janatni, Ibn Tofail University
Territorial Economic Intelligence: GIS and Logistics in the Region of Kénitra.
14:35 Documentary « Mehdiya Project » by IIG “4mn”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CixFdkDpsc
14:40 Presentation by Dr. Aziz Mridekh, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra
Environment : Atlantic Coast and Kénitra Port Construction.
14:45 Presentation by Dr. Jaouad Dabounou, Hassan 1st University, Settat.
HR Soft Skills: Youth empowerment & future industries in the region.
15:00 Presentation of US Department of Commerce, Mrs. Brenda Van Horn
The US – Morocco Free Trade Agreement
15:10 Presentation of US Embassy Public Affairs by Mrs. Eva Coffey
15:15 Presentation of US Agency for International Development by Mrs. LeAnna Marr
15:20 Presentation of Millennium Challenge Corporation by Mrs. Carrie Monahan
15:30 Discussion: Gender dimension in empowerment and building competence in accordance with the upcoming industrial growth of the region.
16:00 Conclusion
16:15 Break to Reception
16:30 Event Ends