“Parlons Développement”: Awaken and Nurture a Culture of Debate and Dialogue on Development Topics for Moroccan Youth

At the World Bank (WB), the issue of youth and its future is a priority, and is at the heart of our programming, regardless of the country with which the WB is working. Youth is one of the most precious treasures a country can have, and it is essential to include their voices and ideas in discussions of global development. The initial idea behind the “Parlons Développement” initiative (PD), created in 2021, was to sow seeds in universities and civil society organizations to cultivate a culture of dialogue on development topics among young Moroccans and enable youth to contribute to the debate on the challenges of sustainable development and post-COVID-19 recovery while taking the 2030 Agenda, the SDGs, and the Morocco New Development Model as a basis for reflection. Five years after its launch, the project has impacted young people and the initiative’s ecosystem beyond expectations. “Parlons développement” went to several cities to meet young talents”, said Nezha Larhrissi, President of e-Stem, a Moroccan civil society organization and panelist in the 16th edition of “Parlons Développement” on digital and innovation in Ifrane. “When talking about innovation, we evoke diversity, co-creation, and for me, this is the very DNA of “Parlons Développement.” I thank this initiative for going out in the regions because we have gold nuggets hidden everywhere.” The PD series is, above all, about strong partnerships at different levels. The first level of partnership is between the project’s initiators and organizers: the WB, the UNDP, and the Policy Center for the New South (PCNS - a Moroccan think tank aiming to contribute to the improvement of economic and social public policies in Morocco and the rest of Africa as integral parts of the global South). For each edition, the WB, the UNDP, and the PCNS (the Steering Committee) form a strategic partnership with a national public or private university or a civil society organization. Together, they identify a pertinent local or national development issue for discussion. The Steering Committee then facilitates a dialogue between youth—comprising university students or young members of the civil society organization—and a diverse group of experts. These experts may include representatives from government, civil society, the private sector, academia, or the organizing institutions themselves. The discussions cover a wide range of themes critical to Morocco's future, including jobs and employability, territorial innovation, development strategies for oasis areas, water management, and the challenges of citizenship education.