Anissa and Inas: Two young professionals with a shared commitment to Morocco

For one, working in Morocco was an opportunity to get to know a country to which she had always felt connected. For the other, it was a first step into the world of international cooperation. Despite their very different backgrounds, Anissa and Inas share a common ambition: to help create more opportunities for young people and women in Morocco.

Anissa and Inas both work within the Morocco Employment Horizons programme, although on different activities. Based in Rabat, Anissa contributes to the management of grants and public procurement procedures, while also supporting the capacity strengthening of project partners.

Inas, meanwhile, left Marrakech to join the Oriental region in Oujda, where she works on activities related to technical and vocational education and training for young people and women.

“Like Anissa, I monitor the project’s grant beneficiaries and also contribute to organising workshops and other activities with our partners.”

Different backgrounds, a shared goal

Anissa grew up in Belgium, but has Moroccan roots. “I was born and raised in Belgium, but I have always felt a strong connection with Morocco. Being able to live and work here today is something very special to me.”

Before joining the Junior Programme, Anissa had already gained international experience. She first worked in Spain, where she supported organisations in applying for European funding. She then joined the European Commission in Brussels. “I worked for the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, where I organised workshops with partners from all over the world.”

These experiences naturally led her to Enabel. “I really wanted to engage in international solidarity beyond European borders.”

Inas was born and raised in Morocco. With a background in social work and economics, she worked with vulnerable young people in Marrakech. “I worked for an organisation supporting children living on the streets in Marrakech. I also did a great deal of volunteer work, always with a focus on solidarity.”

For her, joining Enabel marked a major turning point in both her professional and personal life. “I wanted to better understand public policy-related work after my field experience. This programme allowed me to take that next step.”

Collaboration beyond regions and roles

Although they work in different regions, Anissa and Inas are part of the same project and collaborate closely. Their cooperation is built on flexibility, mutual support and shared learning. “We help each other whenever needed, and it is enriching to learn from one another,” explains Anissa.

Their collaboration takes many forms in their day-to-day work. “I often ask Inas for advice or to review certain documents. She is always willing to help.” They have also worked together on several more intensive activities. One of the most memorable was a workshop organised directly with the project’s target group.

“It was the first time we actually met the people the project is intended to benefit,” recalls Anissa. For Inas, the experience was particularly inspiring: “I found it incredibly enriching. I was meeting young people my own age, yet their daily realities were completely different from mine. Depending on where you are born and the resources your family has access to, life can take very different paths, even within the same country.”

Although much of their work takes place behind the scenes, it is essential to the success of the project. “Grants are the foundation of many projects,” explains Inas. Anissa adds: “Behind every grant lies a tremendous amount of preparatory and administrative work.”

Demanding work

Their professional journeys at Enabel have not always been without challenges. Inas reflects on one particularly demanding experience: “I contributed to the finalisation of a grant agreement. At first, I found it quite challenging because I was still discovering certain aspects of the process. But thanks to the guidance and exchanges with my colleagues, I learned a great deal from the experience.”

Anissa has also faced several challenges, particularly when organising an international study visit. “Preparing meetings with partners, coordinating logistics for a group of 19 participants, booking hotels, collecting and following up on visa documents, it can be quite intense.”

After countless exchanges, meetings and preparations, the effort proved worthwhile. “When participants tell us that they have learned a lot and are satisfied with their experience, it is incredibly rewarding.”

Growing personally and professionally

Both young women highlight the significant impact this experience has had on their personal development.

For Inas, living and working on her own for the first time was transformative. “I had never lived alone before. This experience has made me much more autonomous and independent.”

Anissa experienced a similar evolution. “This experience has helped me become more confident and develop new skills.” She also discovered new professional interests. “I realised that project and action monitoring and evaluation really interests me. It is an area I would like to explore further in the future, and I am currently pursuing training in this field.”

Young talent in Morocco: opportunities and challenges

For Inas, her recruitment at Enabel represented a defining opportunity. “For young Moroccan professionals, it is not always easy to access the international cooperation sector. Organisations often expect candidates to already have substantial experience. Joining Enabel allowed me to gain that experience and build a career path in this field.”

However, she believes that even more opportunities could be created for local young talent. “I hope that in the future even more young Moroccans will have the chance to find their place in the international cooperation sector.”

A dual perspective

“I have always navigated between different cultural worlds, and I see that as a real asset.” According to Anissa, this background is particularly valuable in her work.

“I know both the Belgian and Moroccan contexts, I speak French and a bit of Darija, and I understand cultural codes on both sides. This makes it easier to build relationships with partners and colleagues.”

She believes that young people who grow up in families connected to multiple cultures often develop skills that are highly relevant to international cooperation: adaptability and ease in intercultural exchanges. “We learn from an early age to navigate between different worlds, and that helps us build bridges between people, organisations and different realities.”

Understanding others to make a greater impact

Despite their different backgrounds, Anissa and Inas share the same ambition: to help create opportunities for others. Their story demonstrates that international cooperation is not only about projects and results, but also about human connection, mutual understanding and trust.

For Inas, the Junior Programme served as a gateway into the sector. For Anissa, it provided an opportunity to deepen her connection with Morocco. Together, they embody the strength of young professionals who are able to build bridges between different worlds.

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Interview conducted in November 2025. The roles and responsibilities described in this article reflect the situation at the time of the interview. Inas’s assignment with Enabel has since come to an end. Anissa’s assignment as a Junior Expert will conclude on 5 October 2026.