Morocco has signed a partnership agreement to modernize and digitize the management of scholarships for vocational trainees. The deal, signed in Rabat by Minister of Economic Inclusion Younes Sekkouri, Budget Minister Delegate Fouzi Lekjaa, and Al Barid Bank CEO Al Amine Nejjar, will streamline disbursements for trainees enrolled in institutions under the Office of Vocational Training and Work Promotion (OFPPT) and other ministries overseeing sectors like crafts, agriculture, tourism, fisheries, energy, and urban planning.
The new system introduces a digital platform developed with the General Treasury of the Kingdom, enabling faster application processing, greater transparency, and full traceability of funds. Scholarship payments will continue in three annual installments—October, February, and May—via Al Barid Bank. Beneficiaries will also receive a free “E-ZY Pack,” including a no-fee checking account, a customizable Visa Jeunes card, and access to mobile banking services.
The reform also incorporates data from the Unified Social Registry to ensure merit-based eligibility and involves a ministerial committee and a specialized support unit for platform operations. Minister Sekkouri highlighted the program’s expansion, noting that scholarship beneficiaries have grown from 25,000 to 35,000 in recent years, while Minister Delegate Lekjaa stressed vocational training’s role in Morocco’s broader development projects.
Since 2017, the program has supported 222,000 trainees, with recipients increasing by 37% since 2021. The new agreement is expected to secure fast, transparent, and equitable payments to more than 35,000 trainees annually.
