Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahoum is visiting Morocco for the launch of FemForward’s MENA program.
FemForward, which aims to address gender disparity in managerial positions within the tech industry, is launching its MENA cohort in Casablanca from May 14-16. The program brings together a diverse group of 23 women from Morocco and Israel and is supported by the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem and the UAE-Israel Business Council.
The three-month initiative will tackle the challenges to advancement women face when progressing from junior to managerial positions.
Following the conference, the mentorship program will continue with weekly online workshops given by women working in senior positions. The virtual phase of the program will enable participants to develop their skills in management and negotiation while establishing lasting connections with their mentors and fellow participants.
Several prominent organizations and companies in Morocco are joining in the effort, including the Commons Zerktouni coworking space, Microsoft Morocco, McKinsey& Company and the Association of Businesswomen of Morocco (AFEM).
The conference was co-organized by Start-Up Nation Central, a nonprofit organization that promotes Israeli innovation around the world to help solve global challenges, and Morocco’s Consensus Public Relations.
It brought together women from Israel, Bahrain, Benin, Egypt, Jordan, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates, the United States and elsewhere, focused on the shared challenges faced by women in the Middle East and Africa. These include how geography, culture and religion impact women’s access to financial security, education and the basic infrastructure that enables opportunities to lead.