Morocco Launches $1.3 Million Program to Help Ex-Prisoners Start Businesses

On the initiative of the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Reintegration of Prisoners, the program will benefit 478 former prisoners from different Moroccan cities, and will require a total budget of 13.5 million dirhams.

The sovereign’s initiative aims at the socio-professional integration of former prisoners, without any form of discrimination, while taking into account their qualifications. Moreover, the project is based on a preliminary diagnosis carried out with the help of the reintegration preparation service, which works to match market needs with the training and expertise of the beneficiaries.

As part of the Foundation’s overall strategy, the program successfully reintegrated 453 former prisoners into the labor market in 2018. A strategy that aims to fight delinquency, reduce recidivism rates and promote self-employment and income-generating activities.

King Mohammed VI’s approach aims to make the prison space a school of second chance, re-education, and improvement of the quality of life of former prisoners. Among the actions taken by the sovereign, the handing over of financial support checks to 26 former prisoners with viable projects.