Associations and territorial Resilience: a qualitative study of the role of Income-Generating Activities in Sefrou province, Morocco[Associations et résilience territoriale : étude qualitative du rôle des activités génératrices de revenus dans la province de Sefrou (Maroc)]

In a context marked by persistent socio-economic disparities, income-generating activities (IGAs) appear as a strategic lever for social inclusion and territorial development. This article analyzes, through a qualitative study conducted in the province of Sefrou (Morocco), how IGAs, supported by a triangular cooperation between the Provincial Council, the Aïn Sebou Association, and the Department of Ille-et-Vilaine (France), contribute to strengthening territorial resilience. The methodology is based on a combination of documentary sources, field observations, and thematic analysis applied to a sample of nine micro-projects financed between 2024 and 2025. This sample, composed of vulnerable beneficiaries (rural women, unemployed youth, and low-income households), reflects a sectoral diversity ranging from local services to livestock farming, handicrafts, and agri-food activities. The results show that IGAs foster the economic empowerment of women and young people, diversify sources of income, and consolidate local circuits, thus reducing vulnerability to shocks and migratory pressure. The Aïn Sebou Association played a central role in training, technical support, and monitoring and evaluation, ensuring the technical and financial feasibility of the projects. Nevertheless, structural constraints remain: limited funding, restricted market access, organizational fragilities of local associations, and dependence on external support. The study concludes that integrating IGAs into public policies (INDH, Green Generation 2020–2030) and embedding them into territorial value chains are essential conditions for ensuring their sustainability and their scaling up.