Accelerating Careers of Impact in Morocco

The MENA Youth Employment Summit (MENA YES!) held in Casablanca, Morocco, in October 2024, was the first solutions-focused event of its kind in the region. With over 250 attendees, including private-sector employers, government representatives, multilateral organizations, and youth from across MENA, the summit aimed to co-create solutions to address the region’s high youth unemployment crisis.  

Our team hosted a session at the MENA Youth Employment Summit focused on advancing women’s economic participation and addressing barriers to workforce access for young women. We discussed innovative approaches to breaking down traditional gender norms, adapting work models, and enhancing mentorship for young women. The session fostered engaging dialogue on actionable solutions and highlighted ACN’s ongoing commitment to improving equitable career access across North Africa. 

Overall, we had an opportunity to engage a variety of potential partners, not only for Morocco but also across multiple countries, with regional and global offices. We’ll soon have a structured engagement and onboarding plan for all the leads generated from the conference and look forward to building fruitful partnerships. 

ACN Regional Leadership & Career Impact Summit – 9 October 2024

ACN empowers young leaders by bridging the gap between youth and career opportunities in North Africa. With the theme “Accelerating Youth Employability and Emerging Opportunities in North Africa,” the summit focused on key employability challenges and solutions. 

The opening Keynote was delivered by Sebastian Vagt Country Direct of the Friederich Naumann Foundation, Morocco. The keynote underscored the urgency of creating pathways to employment for young people in North Africa. It set a strategic tone for the summit, focusing on the role of public-private partnerships in addressing youth unemployment. The learning segment addressed top employability challenges in North Africa and proposed structured solutions, including enhancements in tertiary education and vocational training. A youth panel featuring Souhail Wardi, Ghali Jorio, and Ebenezer Laice provided valuable insights into their career journeys, offering attendees a direct youth perspective on employment challenges.  

Given ACN’s long absence from North Africa, we also hosted a deep dive session to update participants on our evolved impact model, highlighting our commitment to inclusive program design and new technology investments aimed at strengthening our career development curriculum for young leaders.