Saraco in action

Only 2.5% of the incarcerated population in Morocco is female. Their limited number, however, is no reason for denying their rights. These rights are specified in the Bangkok (2010) and Nelson Mandela Rules (2015). These rules urge duty-bearers (prisons) to treat women detainees with respect and dignity, to give them access to education and to provide healthcare according to their specific needs. Ensuring the respect of these rights was a first step in Saraco's collaboration with the Moroccan authority in charge of prisons and re-insertion of detainees (Délégation générale à l'administration pénitentiaire et à la reinsertion DGAPR). With finances from UNDP, Saraco conducted a gender analysis in Moroccan prisons an developed in 2018 a Gender Action Plan for the penitentiary administration in Morocco. In 2021, Saraco is asked to implement this plan. We now strengthen capacities of prison guards and improve their working conditions, while focusing on their work-life balance. The DGAPR will be fully in charge of ensuring the respect of their commitments to their female staff members, indirectly benefitting female detainees as rights-holders.

In September 2021, Saraco was invited by a French NGO (3FE) to organise a training on Women’s Financial Inclusion. Members of several NGO’s in Colombia and Uganda working on migration and financial inclusion, joined a four days’ training. During preparation, Saraco conducted a gender analysis focusing on the inclusion of female migrants in finances. Throughout the training, participants shared experiences, strengthened their skills and worked in group on integrating the gender dimension into the design of their projects. Topics on the agenda addressed basic concepts setting the scene, such as women’s economic empowerment; women’s financial inclusion; gender mainstreaming; gender equality; and intersectionality. Participants acknowledged the importance of starting with a sound gender and human rights analysis to address the needs and interests of female migrants regarding financial inclusion. Participants also discussed their theory of change and respective indicators to measure progress during the implementation of their projects. Additionally, the training was accompanied by tailor-made advise to improve the project design for the projects in Colombia and Uganda.

In 2020, Saraco conducted a study for the Belgian Advisory Council on Gender and Development, on how to integrate gender into the Belgian Climate and Energy Plan. Our findings highlighted that adaptation and mitigation measures are not gender neutral.
On the basis of a diagnostic in the sector, Saraco formulated recommendations for the Belgian Ministry of Cooperation. We advised to strengthen the ties with the new generation of rights-holders to include more women in decision-making processes and in particular during high level events, such as the COP26 in Glasgow. We also recommended to support co-creation of solutions in a South-South context and to systematically integrate gender and human rights perspectives into all climate change bilateral interventions financed by Belgium. Additionally, we guided the attention toward the valorisation of local knowledge good practices to respond to climate change; local communities are resilient! We also urged the Belgian Cooperation to consider women’s multiple roles and responsibilities when responding to climate challenges. Last but not least, we highlighted that it is crucial to pay tribute to the diversity of all individuals and consider intersectionality in bilateral and multilateral interventions financed by the Belgian Development Cooperation, to enhance sustainable future-proof solutions.
The study has been presented at the Hybrid Side Event: The Climate-Development-Gender Nexus: lessons learned from the Belgian NECP on the 3rd of November 2021, during the Glasgow Climate Change Conference (COP26).
The study can be found here.

Saraco's multidisciplinary team conducted a study ordered by IOM and the Government of Chad, a first of its kind, on the scope of remittances in Chad. One of the objectives envisioned by the Government of Chad, as formalized in their strategic framework titled “Vision 2030” consists of developing financial mechanisms which allow the mobilization of diaspora resources, and to allow migrant remittances to privately finance promising sectors in Chad. Currently facing insecurity issues and recurring crisis, remittances still remain weak and not understood. The lack of existing data and relevant studies prevent evidence-based decision making by authorities. The objective of this study was: (1) identifying the remittance impact at institutional and legal level; (2) understanding the impact of remittances on households; and (3) analyse the difficulties and risks experienced by the Chadian migrants in Saudi Arabia, Cameroun and Sudan. The study included series of recommendations within this framework to support building the capacity of institutional actors as well as private sector actors. With support from IOM, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Chadians Abroad launched the first study on remittances from the Chadian diaspora to Chad.

Morocco adopted in 2018 a new Law No. 103-13 relating to the fight against violence against women. Recently Morocco also adopted a new national Strategy with the vision aimed at supporting legal reforms to protect women and girls and to respect their national and international obligations emanating from these reforms. In 2021, Saraco was invited by Enabel to formulate a new project, combating gender-based and domestic violence, including sexual violence affecting women and girls in Morocco. The project aims to strengthen capacities of Police staff and staff from the ‘Gendarmerie’ to excel the victim oriented services. In line with the emergence of new forms and types of violence against women, Saraco pays specific attention to cyberviolence, leading to physical, psychological or emotional assaults. As such will be given to decreas the number of women and girls, victim of violence. In doing so, Enabel aligns its intervention with the country's constitution, which enshrines the principle of equality between women and men, prohibits discrimination based on sex and guarantees the physical and moral integrity of the individual.