At the 2025 edition of COP30, held in November in Belém, Brazil, global leaders once again gathered to address the pressing issue of climate change. On the sidelines of the summit, Morocco stood out, climbing to 6th place in the 2026 Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI)—a recognition of its growing role as a serious player in the global energy transition.
Meanwhile, on the regulatory front, the European Parliament approved the OMNIBUS I package, aimed at easing sustainability and due diligence requirements for businesses. While welcomed by many in the corporate world for reducing compliance burdens, the move has sparked criticism from civil society organizations concerned about potential setbacks to environmental and labor protections.
Amid this global momentum, the “S” in ESG—environmental, social, and governance—is gaining traction among publicly listed companies in Morocco. According to the latest report from BMCE Capital Global Research (BKGR), Moroccan firms are making visible progress in their social responsibility practices. This shift is being driven by a mix of investor expectations, regulatory pressures, and broader economic changes. Still, the level of formalization remains uneven across sectors.
Leading the way are the banking, energy, and infrastructure sectors, where social responsibility initiatives are becoming more structured and integrated into corporate strategy. In the banking world, the social component is now seen as a strategic asset. ATTIJARIWAFA BANK, for example, employs over 8,300 people, nearly 45% of whom are women—a proportion that continues to rise in senior management roles. In 2024, the bank invested close to 35 million dirhams in training programs, covering 85% of its workforce.
BANQUE CENTRALE POPULAIRE reported similar figures, with a focus on internal mobility and constructive labor relations. It invested 43 million dirhams in professional development through its internal academies. BANK OF AFRICA also scaled up its talent management initiatives, with training programs reaching 90% of employees. At the same time, the bank is expanding efforts in financial inclusion and entrepreneurship, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
In the industrial sector, TAQA MOROCCO is blending employee training, safety, and community outreach through its “TAQA Morocco for Community” program, which reached more than 20,000 beneficiaries in 2024. The company allocated 8.5 million dirhams to its social initiatives last year.
In the port infrastructure space, MARSA MAROC continues to invest in local employability and vocational training, aligning its efforts with the evolving operational demands of its terminals.
Despite clear progress, social reporting still lacks consistency across companies. The absence of standardized indicators and clearly defined medium-term targets makes comparisons difficult. Moreover, the connection between climate goals and social impact—an increasingly important topic—remains underexplored in corporate disclosures.
Still, a clear trend is emerging. Companies that can back their social commitments with measurable data and strong governance frameworks appear better positioned to meet market expectations and build long-term resilience.
