Career Pathways: empowering Moroccan youth for professional success

Fundación Educación para el Empleo – EFE Europe

Think Human Fund

Mission & History

Fundación Educación para el Empleo (EFE-Europe) is part of the Education For Employment (EFE) Network, founded in 2002. Since then, it has grown into a network that spans ten countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, helping to create economic opportunities for young people. EFE-Europe, based in Madrid, supports this mission by leveraging European partnerships and collaborating with governmental entities, EU donor agencies, and corporations.

EFE’s mission is to equip young women and men with the skills needed in today’s job market and link them to employment and entrepreneurship opportunities. This mission aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly focusing on no poverty, quality education, gender equality, decent work and economic growth, and reduced inequalities

Country Information

In the MENA, where two thirds of the population is under 35, youth unemployment stands at 25% and 4 in 5 working-age youth do not participate in the labour force.

In the case of women, only 1 in 9 are active, while young female unemployment is at 39.8%. This hinders competitiveness, growth, and development, and contributes to high generational poverty, all of which have been severely aggravated by the current global and regional economic and sociopolitical crises.

The Need in 2026

Sectors like ICT, offshoring, e-commerce, healthcare, and supply chain continue to grow despite economic challenges. However, a persistent skills gap hinders hiring with Morocco facing deficits in digital, employability, and SEL skills. Education struggles to meet market demands, widening the digital divide and limiting inclusion. With 78% of businesses valuing ‘future skills,’ and a 65% rise in demand for digital and advanced IT skills projected by 2030 (McKinsey), this program remains vital in addressing these challenges.

The Project We Fund

Ezdehar 2.0 seeks to empower 165 Moroccan youth by providing them with essential digital, employability, and social-emotional learning (SEL) skills to improve their career prospects and market access. Key components include market analysis to identify HR needs, customizing training modules to align with industry demands, and recruiting 500 youth nationwide. The program offers 4-hour digital skills training and 40-hour SEL training, with a goal of securing employment for at least 81 graduates. Graduates also receive ongoing post-training support through the EFE Alumni Network, performance tracking via MEAL systems, mentorship opportunities, promotional activities, and knowledge-sharing to expand the initiative across the EFE Network.

The Result

EFE will continue to use Salesforce-based, results-driven MEAL system to track performance and support ongoing learning to collect baseline data before training and endline data after, with additional updates every 3 months to a year. Data is gathered through surveys, phone calls, focus groups, employment checks, and feedback from alumni, supplemented by attendance records, training photos, success stories, and testimonials.

The Need in 2025

Despite the economic downturn, sectors like ICT, offshoring, e-commerce, healthcare, and supply chain have seen significant growth. However, a severe skills mismatch impedes hiring, with Morocco ranking poorly in skills and labor market factors on the WEF’s 2019 Global Competitiveness Index. Employers highlight a lack of digital, employability, and SEL skills among jobseekers, which the proposed program aims to address. Public education struggles to keep up with market needs, increasing the digital divide and limiting socio-economic inclusion. PwC reports that 78% of businesses value ‘future skills,’ and McKinsey projects a 65% increase in demand for basic digital skills by 2030, along with a rise in advanced IT and SEL skills.

The Project We Fund

Ezdehar 2.0 aims to empower 150 Moroccan youth by equipping them with digital, employability, and social-emotional learning (SEL) skills to enhance their career opportunities and market access. Key activities include conducting market analysis to identify HR needs, tailoring training modules to market demands, and recruiting 500 youth from across Morocco. The program delivers 4-hour digital skills training and 40-hour SEL training, aiming to place at least 81 graduates in jobs. Graduates also benefit from post-training support through EFE Alumni Network, performance tracking via MEAL systems, promotional activities, mentorship opportunities and shared best practices to scale the initiative across the EFE Network.

The Result

EFE employs a Salesforce-based, results-driven MEAL system to track performance and support ongoing learning. It collects baseline data before training and endline data after, with additional updates every 3 months to a year. Data is gathered via surveys, phone calls, focus groups, employment checks, and feedback from alumni, supplemented by attendance records, training photos, success stories, and testimonials.

In addition to performance indicators, beneficiaries complete pre- and post-assessments that feed into the JTP Workplace Skills Confidence Index, measuring increases in confidence in teamwork, problem-solving, job presentation, communication, and job matching.

The project is designed to create multiplier effects for replication and scalability, involving various stakeholders to share knowledge and best practices. This approach aims to extend the project’s impact on promoting green and circular economies across Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia. By enhancing coordination with public and private actors, the project seeks to replicate successful programs, improve service quality, and expand beneficiary reach. Empowered youth will drive job creation, inspire others, and promote environmental practices, with potential increased integration into local contexts and knowledge-sharing across the EFE Network.

2025 Annual Report

The project directly benefited 109 disadvantaged Moroccan youth, including 75 who completed digital and employability training and 34 who underwent job training and placement. There was an improvement on the students’ digital and employability skills, achieving a 100% job placement rate for JTP graduates, fostering economic stability and professional confidence while addressing Morocco’s youth unemployment challenges.

Testimonies

“I currently work at Marjane City Jbal Ayachi – Agdal as a multi-skilled employee. I am pleased to share my experience with EFE-Maroc. I first learned about EFE-Maroc through my professor and decided to enroll in the training program to strengthen my skills and increase my chances of finding a job. At the time, the main challenges I faced in my job search were a lack of practical skills and professional experience.” -Ilham Slimani, 26 years old-

2025 Midterm Report

The EZDEHAR project undertook several key actions aimed at enhancing the employability of disadvantaged youth. Activities included market analysis and partnership-building to align with companies in need of human resources, as well as youth outreach and sourcing through social media and partnerships with various sectors. The project enrolled and graduated 20 Moroccan youth, including 5 females, which accounted for 23% of the participants. Of these graduates, 18 secured jobs in the Retail and Sales sectors, contributing to their economic stability. The program directly helped 20 youth, and when you factor in their families, 72 people were indirectly impacted.

The program was significant, as training graduates enhanced their social and emotional skills, thereby strengthening their employability. As a result, 18 graduates were able to secure a livable income through employment. Additionally, the program fostered increased confidence among the youth in areas such as teamwork, problem-solving, and job matching.