HerstoryofChange - Jamila's Story
Jamila Idbourrous is the director of the Union of Argan Women's Cooperatives. She represents 1200 women argan farmers in the south of Morocco who have united in cooperatives to produce arganoil in a fair and sustainable way.
In 2016, Jamila was one of the winners of the Gender Just Climate Solution Award. This is a yearly event at the UNFCCC Climate Summit , organized by WECF International and the Women & Gender Constituency.
In Morocco, the differences between rich and poor and between urban and rural areas are large. In the arid and dusty landscapes of the Argan region in southwestern Morocco, the argan tree is a lifeline. The small strip of land stretching between Essaouira and Tiznit is one of the only places in the world where argan trees grow. But the desert is approaching fast, due to climate change. As director of the Union of Argan Women's Cooperatives, Jamila works there with more than 1200 Berber women from 22 women's cooperatives. The production of argan oil has supported indigenous Berber women for generations, with ancestral knowledge about nurturing the forest passed down through families. The women make a living from the production of arganoil and process the argan fruits by hand in order to produce the purest oil. Ultimately, the goal of the cooperatives is to control the entire value chain, from argan nuts to cosmetic products.
Climate change threatens the Arganforest
The Arganforest represents a traditional way of life, it is a precious source of income for women and an important defense against desertification. An increasingly unstable climate threatens progress made in recent years. In July 2020, it got so hot that even the drinking water supply had to be shut down overnight, a challenge during the Covid pandemic. Climate change not only threatens the health of the native Berber population, but also threatens their income, as argan trees produce less when temperatures are too high.
“Women should participate in the energy sector as they have the knowledge about specific needs and priorities.” - Jamila Idbourrous
Why is solar energy so important?
To address climate challenges and protect the forest, Jamila introduced solar energy to the Argan region, but in such a way that it promotes both women's rights and protects people and the planet. The vast majority of households in the region depended on firewood and butane gas for cooking food. However, the combustion of these materials has a major impact on human health and the environment. The women also spent hours collecting firewood. Switching to solar energy therefore not only protected the forest, but also significantly reduced the workload of women.
Results of UCFA
- 600 women are improving their skills on cooperative management, governance and strategy.
- 2 women energy cooperatives in development and 40 women technicians will master solar technologies.
- 1 solar village: 15 families equipped with solar cookers, 1 solar oven, 1 pump, 1 hammam.
- Ancestral knowledge for climate action and biodiversity protection is recognized.
- Women’s workload is significantly reduced as they spend less hours on firewood collection.
“Like the ecosystem in the forest, everything is interconnected for us too: the fight against climate change cannot be separated from our struggle to overcome sexism and the discrimination we face as indigenous women.” - Jamila Idbourrous
What's special about Jamila's project?
Argan production is traditionally a women’s job, and the creation of women’s cooperatives has helped to provide a more stable income, giving them a recognized place in the economy and a stake in decision-making about the forests. Social and political discrimination against women is still strong in Morocco. This also makes it difficult for women to enter the labour market. Particularly in rural areas, income inequalities and high unemployment in the agricultural sector have a serious impact on women's economic and social autonomy.
The establishment of the women's cooperatives contributed to a more stable income while the local production of solar technologies created jobs for women in a male-dominated industry, making a major contribution to Morocco’s sustainable energy transition. Not so long ago it was unthinkable that women could have their own income here. Now they are confidently unleashing an energy revolution.
Our Solutions
Women bear an outsize burden of the global warming crisis, largely because of gender inequalities. They are often the ones who work in the fields or at home and are the first victims of drought, flood or climate-related disasters. At the same time, women and their organizations can play a fundamental role as producers of food and as consumers of energy and water and hold the key to change in the fight against climate change. That is why we want to provide space for the stories of inspiring champions in the field of gender equality and the fight against climate change and environmental pollution.
With this in mind, we organize, together with the Women and Gender constituency, an annual Award ceremony during the global climate negotiations, the Gender Just Climate Solutions Awards, where we identify the most outstanding grassroots climate actions that have women leadership and promote gender-equality. We know the solutions to a more sustainable future already exist – and it is time to showcase them and demand change!
Impact of the Award for Jamila and UCFA
The transition of low-carbon economies has to be inclusive. In 2016, Jamila and UCFA won the GJCS award because of their transformational solution to the environmental problems facing the Argan region. The grant and the accompanying mentor program was used for training and knowledge building in the field of both production and trade in solar energy products. For example, last year 20 young women were trained to install and trade local solar energy products. In this way, women actively participate in the energy transition and gain more appreciation for the work they do.
Read more about our campaign through #Herstoryofchange.
"The Arganforest, our home, is under threat from climate change." - Jamila Idbourrous
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WECF is a nonprofit network dedicated to a gender just and healthy planet for all. Our international network consists of over 150 women’s and civil society organizations implementing projects in 50 countries. We believe that a sustainable future and environment needs holistic solutions reflecting the lives of people on the ground. We believe in feminist solutions based on our partners’ visions and needs. That is why we work on transformative gender equality and women’s human rights in interconnection with climate justice, sustainable energy, less toxic waste & safe water & sanitation for all.
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