Earlier this month (week beginning 10 June), HAF met with representatives of the coalition of associations of Mohammedia (CAM). This meeting was an opportunity to strengthen our work with the coalition.

The objectives of this meeting was to follow up on the status of CAM; to discuss the main elements of a press release text; to agree the main elements of a convention document describing the future partnership between HAF and CAM and to decide on a date and agenda for the upcoming conference.

After welcoming the visitors, M. Tadlaoui-Cherki presented the meeting agenda and explained that a meeting report would be prepared by the HAF team and shared with the participants later. He then invited the participants to share feedback and suggestions of other agenda items.

Then the discussion started by reviewing the steps of the CAM registration process. M. Layamani, the CAM President, explained that the registration process is going smoothly as planned and that the final submission will be done once the last required document is received. (One member of the administrative council has not provided yet a copy of his ID card). Other than that, all the required paperwork had been prepared and was ready to be submitted to the local authorities.

The group then discussed the need to issue a press release as soon as the registration is done, as a way to communicate the creation of the new NGO and as a step to start effectively applying one of the important elements of good governance. The group then brainstormed ideas for short and concise press release and decided to have M. Lyamani compile the ideas discussed in a first draft of the press release.

During the discussion about a future partnership, the representatives of the CAM administrative council expressed their hope for a long-term partnership with HAF. M. Tadlaoui-Cherki, shared with the participants HAF’s plan to create a HAF Mohammedia Branch as soon as possible and that CAM would be invited to join the board of the local branch.

At the end it was decided to draft a convention document and share it with the CAM leadership so they can discuss it within their council. It should be noted that during this discussion, the CAM representatives raised several issues, including funding from HAF and the HAF mission and principles. After explaining that HAF is not a funding source and that any future partnership agreement should clarify this issue, Mr. Tadlaoui-Cherki promised to share documents related to HAF bylaws, mission and principals.

M. Tadlaoui-Cherki presented the rationale for organizing a conference and how it would be a great opportunity for CAM to advocate for its mission and its strategic program to stakeholders from government and the private sector. The group then discussed possible dates and venues and decided on July 4th, 2013 as a date for the conference and the Cultural Center as the venue.

The group then decided that HAF team would be in charge of inviting representatives from government agencies; including Youth and Sport, Health, Education, Social Development, the Prefecture and local elected officials, while the CAM team would be responsible for inviting representatives of the private sector and local civil society organizations.

During a meeting of the General Assembly at 5pm on 15 June 2013, the HAF project team met with the association Beni Yakhlef to create the officers of the coalition. 12 associations were represented.

The meeting began with the presentation of each association, as there were several new faces. I presented the High Atlas Foundation and our goals with regard to the coalition.

The organizers of the General Assembly read the programme of the General Assembly and explained at the same time the articles of the coalition. Following this, they noted the names of participants who wanted to amend the articles of the coalition agreement.

The content of the articles of the coalition was very clear and agreed by all the associations present. However, I noticed that some representatives had come to bother others or were disengaged (eg using their mobile phones).

The meeting progressed well until the vote, where people sought political alliances or exercised certain influence. This led some association members to leave the meeting, and so the meeting was stopped.

After this event, I held a closed meeting with Mr.Syar, director of the Youth Centre of Ibn Yekhlef, and Mr. Ibrahm Raqiq, the organizer of the coalition. After a long discussion, I understood that there are personal conflicts between the associations, which constantly prevent agreement between these associations. We decided to do our utmost to bring the coalition into being.

Decisions and Conclusion:

We will seek to agree this coalition on 21 June 2013 in a meeting at 18pm at the Ibn Yekhlef Youth Centre orgnanized by Mr. Syar, the Director of the Ibn Yekhlef Youth Centre, in the presence of just six associations that are very well known to the Ibn Yekhlef colleagues for their commitment. These 6 associations will constitute the coalition. On Monday 24 June 2013, we will send the complete registration documentation of the coalition to the local authorities. After the creation of the coalition, the door will be open for all associations to join in.

The plan is to change the name of the coalition of associations Ibn Yekhlef to the Ibn Yekhlef Development Space.