DW Akademie in Morocco

Compared with other countries in the region, Morocco has a relatively high political stability and strong civil society. However, basic rights are limited, especially in terms of freedom of expression. Reporters Without Borders' 2022 World Press Freedom Index ranked Morocco 135th out of 180 countries.

Although upheavals in 2011 did not result in a radical change, they did initiate a reform process toward more democracy and the rule of law. It includes decentralization efforts because a major development gap exists between three major cities – Rabat, Casablanca and Marrakesh – and the rest of the country. This is reflected in the uneven supply of local information. 

Morocco's media market is concentrated in the country's economic center, and there is a lack of professional, local journalism. Commercial media mainly operate online portals and depend on advertising revenues. Since the largest customer is the state, it can force favorable reporting through the selective and non-transparent awarding of contracts. 

Although the media rarely cover issues effecting people in rural areas, civil society actors are trying to counter the information gap. Several NGOs have established community media – primarily as Internet radio stations – that provide local populations with information focusing primarily on social issues. These stations help raise awareness about topics such as violence against women, radicalization and environmental problems.

Our activities

DW Akademie has been active in Morocco since 2011. It is currently working with the lead partner Forum des Alternatives Maroc (FMAS) to strengthen selected community media and assist them in establishing a network. The goal is to enable community media to better bring their social and political issues into the national discourse, to better represent their own interests, and to become an integral part of the Moroccan media sector. DW Akademie is also supporting FMAS in establishing its own media department. The Internet platform E-Joussour is intended for community media to produce and prepare reports aimed at a nationwide audience, and especially at disadvantaged groups such as women. Community media will be able to use the platform to also share journalistic content.  

FMAS is also implementing a project sponsored by the EU Delegation to Morocco that aims to qualify young people - especially young women - for the job market and to extend their participation in public life.  

In light of the coronavirus, DW Akademie and FMAS are also supporting community media in producing a series of broadcasts about the pandemic's medium- and long-term impact at the local level. The NGO 100% Mamans is training single mothers as citizen journalists for the radio station Mères en ligne. These mothers produce a daily podcast aimed at other mothers and that focuses on COVID-19. Together with other community media, FMAS produces a daily (radio) newsletter that, for example, debunks false news about the virus and potential pneumonia.  

Another project that focuses on combating fake news about the virus is funded by Germany's Federal Foreign Office and trains Moroccan media workers in data journalism. 

Funding: German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), EU Delegation in Rabat

Program Director: Khalid El Kaoutit  

Locations: Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier, Khémissat, Taliouine, and elsewhere  

Local partners: Forum des Alternatives Maroc (FMAS), 100% Mamans, Association Initative Citoyenne

Focus: Qualification and professionalism in the media sector, media viability, social participation