The National Hackathon for the Digitalization of Civil Society concluded on Friday, July 18, in Salé with the announcement of four winning projects. Supported by associations from various regions, the selected initiatives stand out for their strong local roots, ensuring that the backing they receive will have a meaningful impact. The closing ceremony of the National Hackathon for the Digitalization of Civil Society took place on Friday, July 18, in Salé. On this occasion, Huawei Morocco, in partnership with the delegated ministry attached to the Head of Government in charge of relations with Parliament, unveiled the four winning projects of this year's edition. Submitted by associations from various regions of the country, the selected initiatives stand out for their strong local roots and are expected to have a meaningful impact on the ground. The event was organized in collaboration with 45 associations and aimed to «support the digital transformation of civil society organizations through concrete technological projects, designed and developed over three days with the support of technical mentors and Huawei experts», the organizers explained. Jason Chen, Vice President of Huawei Morocco, emphasized the significance of this initiative. In his opening remarks, he highlighted the transformative power of digital tools and their positive effects on local civil society actions, particularly when it comes to the broader socio-economic value they can generate. Associations Leading Projects with Environmental Impact Among the four winning projects was one led by the Tarwa N'tmazirt Association for Development, based in Sidi Ifni. The project focuses on digitally monitoring the growth and irrigation status of the region's argan forests, an essential part of Morocco's environmental heritage that requires collective efforts to preserve. Lahcen Baid, president of the NGO and recipient of the fourth prize, told Yabiladi that the initiative reflects the association's long-standing commitment to protecting this endemic tree. The group has already planted 20,000 trees in the Sebt Ennabour commune. «The support for the digitalization of this project will allow us to rigorously monitor each of our argan trees remotely, over a large area of several hectares», Baid explained. The association is deeply committed to ensuring the project's success, especially since Baid himself comes from a family that has cultivated argan trees for generations in the region. «We are working to replant and preserve these trees in the best possible way because we have noticed they are deteriorating in our locality. To preserve this ancestral practice, we've not only committed to reviving this endemic species, but also to using digital tools to enhance its conservation for agricultural purposes». The association also highlighted that the argan tree is particularly water-efficient, an increasingly important trait in a country facing one of its most severe droughts. In this context, «modernizing the irrigation methods of argan forests offers nothing but benefits: avoiding excessive watering, maintaining the trees more effectively, and optimizing the use of water resources allocated to agriculture», Baid added. Digitalization Benefiting Social Initiatives The first prize of the hackathon was awarded to the Tawada Association for Development and Culture, based in Tounfite, in the Midelt province. Ali Aït Rouh, president of the NGO, told Yabiladi that their winning project is a digital platform designed to improve the distribution of clothing and blankets to local populations living in mountainous and remote areas. «The goal is to centralize donations and connect donors directly with beneficiaries, streamlining the donation process and ensuring that distributions effectively reach the targeted regions», he explained. «These areas are known for their very harsh winters. For years, we've been collecting donations through social media and online appeals. While we received responses, they were limited compared to the actual needs on the ground», he added. «The creation of this dedicated platform, further supported by the hackathon, will streamline the donation circuit and make it even more impactful, with greater benefits for the communities in need». Aït Rouh also expressed hope that the digitalization initiative «will add value by complementing the efforts made by other local civil society actors, associations from other cities, international NGOs, local authorities, and the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity, all of which are involved in winter aid operations in Tounfite». The third prize went to the Baraa Association in Oulad Teïma for its app project aimed at educators to enhance the quality of primary education in rural areas. The second prize was awarded to the Moroccan Civil Aid Association – Lakhsas, for its initiative to create a digital platform to support people with disabilities by identifying their needs in education and training.
