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Morocco Week in Review
August 18, 2007
Morocco: Peace Corps Bloggers Part 2
Saturday, August 25th, 2007 by Jillian York
As last week’s post, an introduction to Peace Corps Bloggers, garnered an overwhelming response, this week’s post will continue to introduce this illustrious and hardworking category of bloggers, complete with photos.
We’ll start off this week with a rare glimpse into the home of a PCV (Peace Corps Volunteer). Samuel Gunter, of Life Called, has posted some photos of his home in Morocco. Here’s one of the kitchen:
Now remember that there is no running water so I have to go collect that which can really be a pain. I have the conversation almost every day about why I don’t have a wife to do that for me. The Peace Corps of course didn’t put “Wife to carry water” on the packing list so I didn’t bring one. I’m very upset about that and am lodging a complaint through the proper channels. I’d get one in country, but my budget doesn’t allow for that.
Connie in Morocco has been traveling, and shares with us a beautiful photo from the Cascades d’Ouzoud, Morocco’s most famous waterfalls. The next day we took a day trip with another nearby volunteer to a place called Cascades d’Ouzoud. The drive there in the taxi was rather spectacular, but mostly uncomfortable. It was quite hot, the driver had the native music playing very loudly, and it was hairpin turns in and out of mountains for a couple of hours. But the place, once we got there, was quite pretty. I think it must be very beautiful early summer. Most Moroccan people there, many kids enjoying the cool water, lots of folks brought picnic lunches, blankets, and just spent the day in the shade.
Sometimes when abroad, it’s nice to come across something - anything - familiar. James Collins of واخا (or wakha, which means “ok” in Moroccan Arabic) is another PCV with a blog, who shares this story of spotting The Wizard of Oz in Morocco:
Several months ago I stayed with my neighbor Meddi and his family in Oujda, where he’s a school teacher for most of the year. On a satellite TV with more than 200 channels, less than 10 of which are in English, we found the original “Wizard of Oz” being shown with Arabic subtitles. I then took the following photo, showing Oumayma watching this classic.
And lastly, a repeat performance of one of last week’s bloggers. Cory Driver of 32n5w demonstrates what air travel from Morocco can be like:
the plane was 5 hours late, but that didn’t really affect me. what did have some effect on me was the man who lit a cigarette in his seat and merrily puffed away until two somewhat mortified flight attendants asked him to put it out. he asked why, because he wasn’t dropping ashes or anything (he had a henry’s cookie package open and was dropping his ashes into it, after all). the flight attendants not-so-calmly explained that smoking was not allowed on the flight. the man very calmly replied that it was allowed on the bus, so it should be allowed on planes too. the flight attendants then snatched the cigarette, lightly burning the smoker’s neighbor and told the man not to light up again. he said it was his last cigarette anyway. the flight attendants came on the loud speaker and told everyone on the plane not to lend the smoker a cigarette. the flight continued…
A special thanks to last week’s readers, who posted some helpful links for Peace Corps or would-be Peace Corps volunteers (as well as those of us who just find the Peace Corps interesting!). Here are the links they shared:
Peace Corps Writers
The Blog of John Coyne, a Returned PCV
A Site for Returned PCVs
A Collection of English-Language Morocco blogs from Friends of Morocco
http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/08/25/morocco-peace-corps-bloggers-part-2/
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MCC Approves Largest Compact to Date with Morocco.
Posted by Sarah Rose, Research Assistant srose@cgdev.org
On August 9 the Board of Directors of the MCC approved a $698 million compact for Morocco (pdf), making it the largest (xls) of the 14 compacts to date (coming in at $151 million more than the next largest compact). Remarkably, however, it is the second smallest compact on a per capita basis.
With the approval of the Morocco compact (and on the heels of signing Lesotho and Mozambique in July), MCC has only around $600-$700 million left in unobligated balances, which makes it harder for Congress to justify cutting the MCA’s FY2008 budget based on its prior (and misleading) assumption that MCC is sitting on piles of unused cash.
The compact includes the following projects:
Though large and complex in its projectized approach, the Morocco compact does seem to stand out from the pack in terms of focusing the majority of its programs on directly opening up growth opportunities for the poor. The extent to which prior compacts directly benefit the poor, as opposed to sharing benefits with the full population, has been a topic of discussion among the NGO community. Morocco, which recently moved up to lower-middle income status, is seeing solid growth (7.3% in 2006, with more modest projections for 2007 and 2008), and the compact helps connect the poor to the opportunities that are coming online.
While the direct linkages to the poor are evident in most of the compact’s projects, the architectural component of the Artisan and Fez Medina project seems to be an exception. The assumption is that the reconstruction of historic sights within the Fez Medina will increase tourism, and thus, presumably, the number of customers for artisans. The success of this particular aspect of the project seems highly dependent on assumed behavioral changes at several levels (that more tourists will come, and that more will buy craftwork). The benefits to the poor are very indirect, and the MCC is relying heavily on induced benefits (which was one of GAO’s criticisms of the MCC-Vanuatu compact), so I wonder whether the MCC is really the right organization to take on this kind of program.
As a final comment on the Morocco compact, we’ve heard some questions about the depth and quality of public consultation in setting priorities and determining projects given that citizens may be reluctant to speak out against the King. We would, as always, love to hear more from folks on the ground.
http://blogs.cgdev.org/mca-monitor/archives/2007/08/mcc_approves_la.php
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Morocco settles dispute with unemployed graduates.
By Sarah Touahri – 22/08/2007
A recent agreement between the Moroccan government and a coalition of unemployed university graduates promises to resolve a dispute indicative of the country's greater problems in education and employment. The government will provide preferential treatment in entrance exams and additional training to the complainants, provided they cease their public protests.
Moroccan university graduates have long faced a problem of unemployment and many of them have united to demand positions in the country's civil service. The crisis is finally progressing towards a favourable outcome. In an August 17th meeting, Prime Minister Driss Jettou and representatives of the nearly three thousand degree-holders concluded an agreement to integrate the complainants into the professional world.
Under the government's plan the concerned graduates will receive priority in passing recruitment examinations into the civil service. The plan was conceived in early August, after the citizens' group rejected other governmental initiatives like the "Moukawalati" programme that provides financing to potential business owners.
Lists containing the names of all citizens covered under the agreement will be distributed to all ministries, public establishments and businesses. The government has also declared it will establish a special commission to oversee the process and inform candidates of their priority status.
Driss El Gurerraoui, Councillor to the Prime Minister, stated that the period for direct recruitment into the civil service has passed but the new agreement will allow additional positions to be offered to unemployed degree-holders.
A re-training programme has also been adopted, with the aim of providing approximately 1,000 unemployed degree-holders with an opportunity to learn a new, more marketable skill. They will receive six months to one year of supplementary training at the best institutes, professional schools and universities including Al Akhawayn, the Institute of Tourism and others. The programme will begin in September. According to the government, which will assume all of the training costs, the objective is to facilitate the citizens' integration into the job market, particularly into sectors promoting the Moroccan economy.
The beneficiaries have expressed their satisfaction with the outcome, saying the government initiative is a prelude to a true solution to the problem of unemployed degree-holders. Abdellatif El Moustakfi, Secretary-General of the National Group of Unemployed Degree-Holders reported that the signing of this agreement in the presence of the Prime Minister is a promising initiative. "I hope the resolution of this issue will be done with a social approach. In fact, it is necessary to take into account the age of the group members and the category of their degrees," he said.
Jamal Fellah, a law degree holder, stated the initiative will change the lives of a good number of degree-holders. "There are many still awaiting a similar decision. Some of them are over the age of forty and they are finally going to be able to find a job," he said.
In return for the government's assistance, the group members involved are required to cease all forms of protest in the street or in front of public buildings as they have done in the past.
The present agreement is designed to benefit degree holders only. It does not attempt to address the full extent of unemployment in the country. Hundreds of unemployed salary workers participate regularly in sit-ins, soliciting the government for the creation of new jobs in the civil service. Some have attempted suicide, even setting themselves on fire in Rabat's public square. They have no confidence in the private sector and believe that because the state trained and shaped them, it thus has a duty to guarantee them a profession worthy of their level of study.
http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2007/08/22/feature-01
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Gnaoua art school to be established in Essaouira.
22/08/2007
A convention for the creation of a school of Gnaoua art in Essaouira was signed Monday (August 20th) Le Matin reported. The project's objective under the National Human Development Initiative (INHD) is to safeguard the Gnaouis' heritage and promote new talent. The convention was signed on the sidelines of the Gnaoua Youth Festival, held August 18th-21st by local authorities and INHD representatives. The new school will receive some 236,000 dirhams from the INHD and a building and annual budget of 100,000 dirhams from local authorities. The Essaouira-Mogador association will also contribute 50,000 dirhams annually. http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/newsbriefs/general/2007/08/22/newsbrief-07
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The medina of Rabat: a hive of activity.
By Sarah Touahri – 24/08/2007
Rabat's medina is bustling with trade and commerce, joining tourists and citizens in its unique atmosphere. As tradition melds with modernity, unofficial trade activity occasionally poses challenges to established shops and services. Perched on the left bank of the Bouregreg river as it flows into the sea on Morocco’s Atlantic coast, the medina of Rabat has remained more or less unchanged since it was founded over eight centuries ago by the Almohad sultan Abd al-Mumin in 1150.
A magnet for hordes of tourists seeking traditional objets d’art in the capital, one gets the feeling it has been just as lively since time immemorial. Every day, from dawn till dusk, dozens come here to shop or simply amble along its alleyways to soak up the special atmosphere. Water sellers, shoe-shiners, "nekkachates" (henna tattooists) and travelling tradesmen all make their living here.
The medina is crisscrossed by three main streets: Rue Souika (which becomes the Rue du Souk Sebbate), Rue Sidi Fatah and Rue des Consuls, which leads to the Casbah des Oudayas. Rue des Consuls is flanked by stalls belonging to tradespeople and craftsmen, especially carpet-makers. S hoppers come from all over Rabat to stock up at the medina because of its reputation for good value. The ready-to-wear fashion, fabrics, shoes and consumer goods draw customers from all walks of life.
The craft boutiques found throughout the medina are thronged by fans of objets d’art. The artisans have their workshops here and some can work to order. Carpets, small leather and copper items and jewellery adorn the walls of some shops. Tourists from a variety of countries stop in each boutique to admire the handicrafts produced in the medina before choosing the items that tug at their heartstrings, making sure to haggle down the price as much as they can. French tourist Helene Gavier seems to enjoy the atmosphere that hangs in the air here. She lovingly fondles a necklace in her hands and buys it without a moment’s hesitation. "The medina's just irresistible. It's amazing to discover another face of the capital which has managed to preserve its traditions and authentic character. And the handicrafts aren’t so expensive!" she says, delighted. For the last four years she has returned to Morocco, never missing the opportunity to walk along the alleyways of the medina which she has come to know inside and out.
Not only tourists from abroad enjoy the medina and love to wander through it, but many Moroccans have also come to know and love the surroundings that greet them here. They cannot imagine it being any other way. "The medina and especially Souika have to stay the way there are. Officials should make sure its authentic character is preserved. I come here every afternoon just to have a wander and unwind. I love its special atmosphere. We’ve got to make sure it stays this way," declares Hadda Maachou, an elderly lady who lives in l’Ocean, another district of Rabat. She adds that officials need to work to ensure that Souika de Bab El Had remains a peaceful and safe place.
Disputes break out occasionally between the mobile tradesmen and conventional shop owners. Mohammed Toumi, Secretary-General of the Association of Traders and Artisans of the commune of Rabat-Hassane, told Magharebia that travelling traders – whom he prefers to call permanent traders – are a major problem for all tradespeople along Rue Souika. These merchants arrive from a number of places including Sale and the capital, many from Hay Al Inbiaate, Annahda and Al Karya, displaying their wares on the bare ground in front of the shops. They sell their goods at low prices relative to those of the other traders since they have no overhead cost. "The shopkeepers are doomed. They pay water and electricity rates, rent, taxes and wages. That means they have to set their prices higher than this other lot. For instance, an item costing 130 dirhams from a shop would be sold by the itinerants for 100 dirhams. So the customer goes straight to them and the shopkeepers sit around twiddling their thumbs," he says. This has made the shopkeepers feel they are losing out, and for some time they have voiced their anger to the local authorities.
Toumi says the Association has sent a number of letters to wilaya officials. "They’re starting to clamp down on the itinerants by going after them from time to time. We’ve asked the government to give them jobs elsewhere. We don’t wish them any harm, we just want things to be fair," he explains.
The government of the wilaya has been particularly busy in recent months, with local authorities on the trail pirated CD sellers. Raids have been made without warning, with as many as several thousand CDs and DVDs seized by police on some occasions. The police say the illegal trade must end, and the only way of making this happen is to carry out regular checks. Nowadays, few people dare to dabble in pirating. Those who do are held in custody for weeks and have to pay hefty fines, while repeat offenders risk imprisonment.
Aside from the trade in pirated CDs and the itinerant traders, another way in which the unofficial economy is present in the medina is the fact that for a number of years, many people have engaged in petty trades. In Bab El Had, plumbers, cleaning ladies, electricians and errand-boys stand around starting at dawn, patiently waiting for customers to arrive. Hours can go by before anyone requests their services. They’re used to it, but every morning brings new hope and refreshes their spirits. In any case, they have no choice but to keep on trying. They have virtually become a family, each able to appreciate the worries of the others as they are all trying to eke out a day to day existence.
Mohamed Boufarichi has worked for ten years as a plumber. "Every day I hope for God’s providence. Customers come along and take me back to their homes to install or fix something. Sometimes I get no work for three whole days in a row. It’s all a matter of luck," he says, eyeing passing shoppers who just might be potential customers.
The people of Rabat hope their city will retain its authentic, traditional feel. They believe the plan to regenerate the Bouregreg bay area will improve the city and restore its classic charm. http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/reportage/2007/08/24/reportage-01
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Little Blue Book Helps to Improve Maternal Health in Morocco.
23 August 2007 RABAT, Morocco
Latifa, more than seven months pregnant, awaits a prenatal consultation with her gynaecologist in a spacious, breezy meeting room in the National Hospital for Maternal Health Orangers in Morocco’s coastal capital. As the 22-year-old shifts in her chair, she chats with a neighbour, who has also come for a pre-natal check up. The atmosphere is relaxed, with none of the hurried intensity of many maternal hospitals. Nearby in another waiting room, women watch a video on natural births and baby care.
Asked how many times she has come here for pre-natal exams, Latifa reaches into her bag and pulls out a small, official-looking blue booklet. “This is my fourth and final visit before giving birth,” she beams.
The blue book provides medical documentation
The booklet documents all pre- and post-natal visits and includes information on previous pregnancies and notations about complications or medications, among other things. In addition to documenting her maternal health history, the booklet contains general information on pregnancy and motherhood.
The booklet, provided by the Ministry of Health, was developed with assistance from UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. Most women of reproductive age using the public health system now have one of these little blue books.
Latifa, who is pregnant with her first child, is satisfied with the care she is receiving at the national hospital, which she says has better services and more sensitive staff than private clinics. “Private clinics in this country want to give you a C-section whether you need one or not. Here the services are free and the quality is very good.”
In a nearby office another pregnant young woman, named Keltoun, is finishing her third pre-natal consultation. Dr. N. Boulehanni, her doctor, has worked in this facility for five years. Taking off his glasses, and leaning back in his office chair, he explains that the main services offered by the hospital include prenatal consultations, gynaecological exams and emergency obstetric care.
Slow but steady progress in reducing maternal deaths
This facility is the main centre for obstetric care in the entire country. Every day, on average, personnel deliver 23 babies. Although some require Caesarean sections or other interventions, most are normal births. During the past four years, health workers recorded only two maternal deaths. Both were rural women suffering from severe haemorrhage who arrived too late to be saved.
Two deaths in four years is a vast improvement compared to the past. At 220 deaths per 100,000 live births (2004 figure), maternal mortality in Morocco is still considered high, but the rate was 50 per cent higher 15 years ago. Other indicators are showing signs of progress as well. Since 1990, skilled attendance at birth has increased from 40 per cent to 60 per cent, and perinatal care has risen from 50 to 80 per cent.
UNFPA has played a critical role in improving maternal health in Morocco. “The Fund has improved our capacity to handle obstetric emergencies,” says Dr. Boulehanni. “This has helped us cut back on maternal deaths and prevented a lot of pregnancy-related ill health.”
Dr. Radouane Belouali, the UNFPA programme officer in charge of maternal health, attributes the high death rate country-wide to the number of maternal deaths in rural areas, where services are poor, or non-existent.
"We still have very uneven access to quality reproductive health services in many rural areas,” says Dr. Belouali. “But UNFPA, working with the Ministry of Health, is putting a lot of resources into training rural midwives so they can recognize complications and refer women to regional hospitals or clinics for appropriate care.”
But here in Rabat, Latifa, who has finished her last examination before giving birth, feels confident that all will go well. “We know it’s a baby girl,” she says proudly. “My husband and I are both delighted that I am having a normal pregnancy and that I will deliver in this hospital with such wonderful facilities.” — Don Hinrichsen
UNFPA’s Work to Improve Maternal Health in Morocco.
The current UNFPA country programme in Morocco focuses on providing services to nine of the country’s poorest provinces. These provinces are home to 4.2 million people, with two thirds of them living in poor, underserved rural communities.
The role of UNFPA is twofold, explains Dr. Belouali. First it aims to improve the quality of emergency obstetric care, and second, to train staff – doctors, nurses and midwives – to deliver quality services in underserved areas and refer complicated pregnancies to a higher level of care.
Morocco still has a difficult road ahead in improving maternal health services in remote, rural provinces, but the Government has launched a major national initiative for human development, supported by a consortium of major donors. At the core of this ambitious plan is more investment in human health, including reproductive health, education (especially for girls) and micro-finance schemes designed to generate jobs.
http://www.unfpa.org/news/news.cfm?ID=992
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Huge forest fires in N. Morocco subdued
8/24/2007 RABAT, Aug 24 (KUNA)
Moroccan fire services subdued huge forest fires in the state of Tetouan in northern Morocco, said an authorized source here on Friday.
The source revealed that the fires which took place yesterday did not result in any casualties and only 20 hectares of the forests were damaged by the incident.
The fires were put out by specialized fire units from Tangier city and two helicopters. http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1836457&Language=en
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