In March and April, the National U.S. – Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC) partnered with the World Bank Group to support the very first Women’s Economic Empowerment Hackathons in Morocco and Tunisia. The events brought together stakeholders to identify creative ways to address constraints that are preventing women in those North African countries from participating fully in their respective economies.

Hackathons typically engage entrepreneurs and volunteer technologists to brainstorm solutions in a fast-paced, high-stakes competition. In this instance, a major focus of the hackathon teams was to identify technological solutions to connect women from less developed parts of Morocco and Tunisia to markets in the major urban areas and around the world. The World Bank was the driving force behind the hackathons, which were supported by the private sector. Morocco’s hackathons were supported by NxtVn, a sponsor and a Platinum Plus member of NUSACC, among other sponsors; Tunisia’s hackathons were sponsored by such U.S. companies as Microsoft and Coca-Cola, in addition to local Tunisian companies.

“Women play an increasingly important role in U.S. – Arab commerce, and our Chamber was honored to partner with the World Bank in support of these remarkable hackathons,” said David Hamod, NUSACC’s President & CEO. “It is said that women hold up half the sky, and leaders in the Arab world recognize the vital role that women play – at home, in the work force, and in society at large – across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.”

Hamod served on the jury in the Casablanca Technopark, where eight teams from all over Morocco competed for top prize.   Gordon Gray, NUSACC’s Executive Vice President and former U.S. Ambassador to Tunisia (2009 – 2012), participated in the award ceremonies in Béja, Tunisia.