In 2015, Moroccan Project Management Association (MPMA) was formed by some pioneers with the continuous support of IPMA. Since that time, MPMA developed its membership and strengthened its internal organisation. On 16 February 2017, MPMA organised its first national conference in Casablanca at the Sofitel Hotel with over 120 participants from many areas and sectors of Moroccan society. The event was well related in classical and social media:

• http://www.maghrebemergent.com/actualite/breves/fil-maghreb/69595-maroc-tenue-a-casablanca-du-1er-congres-annuel-du-management-de-projet.html
• http://lematin.ma/express/2017/la-mpma-organise-son-1er-congres-annuel-a-casablanca/267327.html)
• https://youtu.be/1Nlc-YJH_Nk
• http://www.mapaudio.ma/fr/Economie-et-finances/1er-congres-annuel-de-management-de-projet
• https://lnt.ma/mpma-organise-premier-congres-de-management-de-projet/
• http://m.libe.ma/Divers-Economie_a83602.html
• http://www.maptv.ma/Economie-et-finances/Tenue-a-casablanca-du-1er-congres-annuel-du-management-de-projet
• htttp://www.quid.ma/a-la-une/casablanca-:-la-mpma–organise-le-1er-congres-annuel-du-management-de-projet

The objective of the conference was twofold:
First, underline the project management profession to Moroccan society as a whole.
Second, gather members and active contributors for the association and raise the awareness regarding the competences needed for project managers in the Moroccan context.
The main topics covered during the morning of the conference were the importance of education and training  in project management and the creation of new eco-systems (example of IPMA), risk management a key factor for project success, project management and the importance of intercultural competences, sustainability in project management and project management in the African context with examples from various sectors ranging from manufacturing industry, services and utilities.

In the afternoon, three workshops took place in order to involve the participants actively in group works, following the lively debates during the round table sessions of the morning. This concept was well appreciated by the audience according to the first evaluation of results. Both the quality of the speakers from national and international background and the facilitators in charge of the workshops contributed to this appreciation. Main topics addressed were the IPMA standards ICB, OCB and PEB standards, public private partnership projects, and finally mastering risk management techniques.

The title “Project management and societal challenges” was chosen to gather stakeholders from the private sector, public administrations and universities.

Morocco in particular is an emerging country with an increasing impact in Africa and which has close economic ties with Europe; in this context, IPMA has a huge potential to develop project member associations in Africa. Casablanca is the business capital of the Kingdom and is an important hub to many French speaking African countries. Morocco is as stable country in the region with a long term vision to develop its economy and society as a whole. It is also involved in the promotion of entrepreneurship in Africa with initiatives like hub Africa (www.hubafrica.co) and will soon join the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). From Cotonou to Dakar, via Abidjan, Lomé, Yaoundé, Accra or Casablanca, the continent is full of ideas and start-ups that are showing hope and that want to change the image of the continent. This is a real chance for IPMA in order to find reliable and sustainable partners interested in the creation of project management association in the previously mentioned countries.

In this context, we can mention the first edition of the regional Pan-African Project Management Conference that will take place on 24-26 May 2017 in Yaoundé, Cameron.

Finally, the 1^st Project management conference of MPMA was also an occasion to advertise IPMA Congress in Astana and to promote the project excellence award.

The next important milestone is the application of Moroccan Project Management Association for IPMA membership at the IPMA Council of Delegates that will take place in March 2017 in Lisbon.

Following the successful event in Casablanca, that was well related both in the written media and on TV, the organisers already mentioned that a similar event will be hosted in Morocco in 2018. Until then as Moroccans like to say, ilalika !

Azeddine Bourachdi, Treasurer of MPMA and his team                                     Younous Hizebry, President of MPMA

by Jesus Martinez-Almela and Amin Saidoun