Moroccan civil society groups have warned against unregulated fundraising campaigns launched at the start of Ramadan, saying some initiatives collecting money for food baskets for poor and vulnerable families risk violating the law and undermining transparency.
Associations said that certain campaigns rely on personal bank accounts to receive charitable donations, raising concerns about oversight, donor protection and whether aid reaches its intended beneficiaries under clear and accountable conditions.
They stressed that Morocco has strict legal provisions governing public fundraising and the redistribution of charitable assistance. Organizers of such initiatives must comply with established procedures to avoid potential abuses and ensure sound financial and administrative governance, the groups said.
Baba Cheikh, a civil society activist, said that fundraising carried out in a random or informal manner during Ramadan, even when motivated by good intentions, remains contrary to the legal framework in force, particularly Decree No. 2.22.152 implementing Law No. 18.18 on the regulation of public fundraising and the distribution of aid for charitable purposes.
“Charitable work is governed by clear legal rules,” Cheikh tells Hespress AR, adding that the legislature has precisely defined the entities authorized to organize public fundraising operations and subjected them to specific conditions and procedures designed to guarantee transparency and protect donors’ funds.
Any initiative operating outside that framework exposes its organizers to legal accountability, even in the absence of malicious intent, he said, noting that compliance with the law takes precedence over other considerations.
Cheikh added that authorization to collect donations falls under the jurisdiction of the competent authorities, which are legally tasked with reviewing applications, verifying their seriousness and ensuring that the required conditions are met. He said the regulatory framework is not intended to restrict charitable work but to protect it from exploitation or deviation from its humanitarian objectives.
Abdelkebir Jaafari, a Moroccan civil society actor and rights advocate, said charitable initiatives and fundraising efforts reflect deeply rooted values of solidarity in Moroccan society. However, he stressed that such activities must be conducted within a framework of transparency and responsibility and in accordance with the laws governing the collection and distribution of donations.
“Any activity carried out outside these legal safeguards opens the door to disorder and mismanagement and may expose those responsible to legal consequences, in addition to the risk of exploitation for unlawful purposes,” Jaafari said.
He added that the law aims to ensure clarity regarding the sources of funds, how they are spent and which entities are accountable for them, thereby strengthening the integrity of assistance programs.
Jaafari also emphasized that genuine associative work goes beyond distributing seasonal aid, focusing instead on training, empowerment and helping vulnerable groups achieve self-reliance. While seasonal charity is commendable, he said, it cannot replace sustainable projects that create real opportunities for economic and social integration and produce long-term impact.
He concluded that promoting a culture of legal compliance in charitable work is a collective responsibility, calling for respect for the governing legal texts and the principles of good governance and transparency so that solidarity initiatives remain a driver of development rather than a source of confusion or exploitation.
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