Record-breaking submissions for 2024 civil society prize, with 472 applications

In 2024, the Civil Society Prize experienced unprecedented interest, with 472 applications submitted, reflecting a 230% increase compared to 2019 and a 69% rise from 2023, revealed Mustapha Baitas, the Minister Delegate in charge of Relations with Parliament and government spokesperson, on Thursday.

During a press briefing following the Government Council meeting on November 28, 2024, Baitas emphasized that the Civil Society Prize, which is organized annually by his department, serves as a flagship initiative aimed at recognizing and valuing the essential contributions of civil society.

He added that while expressions of thanks from the ministry are important, they alone cannot adequately honor the invaluable contributions of associations working on the ground. Although the prize, established by the government and supported by a decree and initial regulations, had its imperfections, it now stands as a crucial foundation of recognition, with the need for evaluation arising to identify and address gaps in the new decree, thereby enhancing its relevance.

According to the spokesperson, the jury commission, which was formed on Wednesday, is now fully operational and ready to assess the applications. Meanwhile, a second commission, established a few weeks earlier to oversee the organization, includes representatives from ministries such as the General Secretariat of the Government and the Ministry of Justice.

Baitas also noted that this year, for the third consecutive year, all jury sessions have been chaired by women, underlining the determined commitment of civil society actors to strengthen the sector.

Regarding reforms, Baitas highlighted two significant changes: the expansion of eligibility for the prize to include Moroccans living abroad (MRE), through the creation of a category for civil society figures from this group, and the removal of the previous linguistic constraint that restricted submissions to Arabic only.

Thanks to the resources of the commission, Moroccan associations abroad can now submit their applications in their native languages, following adjustments to the regulations.

The minister also revealed that the number of applications has steadily increased since the prize’s launch, initially fluctuating and marked by a decline. For instance, in 2022, only 212 applications were received, despite the existence of more than 420,000 associations. However, since the fifth edition and the introduction of reforms, a significant increase in applications has been observed.

This year, 472 applications were submitted, marking a threefold increase from 2019, a rise of 230%, and a 69% increase compared to 2023. Baitas stated that the ministry’s ambition is to reach thousands of associations, thereby reinforcing the credibility and impact of the prize.