As part of the Impact Together! program, run in partnership with Impact Europe and supported by the European Union, HAPPY SMALA organized the “Impact in the Neighborhood – Casablanca Edition” event on April 23, 2025, in Casablanca.
This major gathering brought together key players in impact finance and social entrepreneurship around a common goal: to strengthen synergies between investors, entrepreneurs, and institutions in order to consolidate a more inclusive, collaborative, and resilient ecosystem, while highlighting innovative initiatives and social impact dynamics across three regions: Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and the MENA region.
A strategic meeting for the impact ecosystem
Designed as a
hub for reflection and action, Impact in the Neighborhood has established itself as a privileged space for dialogue between funders, experts, and committed entrepreneurs.
The event is part of the approach promoted by Happy Smala, leader of the Impact Together! program in Morocco, which works to structure impact finance and build bridges between national, regional, and European networks.
The opening speeches were given by Oumelghit Guelzim (Partner and Director of Operations, HAPPY SMALA), Céline Anselme (Project Manager, European Union Delegation to Morocco), Ewa Konczal (Market Development Manager, Impact Europe) and Eric Asmar (CEO, HAPPY SMALA).
Each of the speeches emphasized the need for enhanced cooperation and strategic alignment to promote impact finance as a driver of sustainable development in the MENA region.
Two major announcements for the ecosystem: the 4th edition of the Crowdfunding Barometer and the Arab Impact Network
Crowdfunding continues to grow in Morocco
During this event,
HAPPY SMALA presented the 4th edition of its Crowdfunding Barometer in Morocco, a new study that analyzes the evolution of this citizen and solidarity dynamic. Conducted for ten years, this publication lists all the collaborative financing campaigns – local or international – supporting Moroccan projects.
This edition highlights an exceptional mobilization, with more than 130 million dirhams raised between September 2023 and December 2024. This remarkable increase is largely due to the outpouring of solidarity that followed the Al Haouz earthquake, which generated more than 126 million dirhams in contributions.
Beyond the figures, the barometer offers an in-depth analysis of trends: evolution of contributor profiles, typology of projects supported, most mobilized
platforms and territorial impacts observed. It aims to enlighten public actors, funders, entrepreneurs and citizens on the potential of collaborative financing as a lever for commitment, resilience and economic inclusion.
Beyond the figures, the barometer offers an in-depth analysis of trends: changes in contributor profiles, types of projects supported, most popular platforms, and observed regional impacts.
It aims to inform public actors, funders, entrepreneurs, and citizens about the potential of collaborative financing as a lever for engagement, resilience, and economic inclusion.
Launch of the Arab Impact Network (AIN)
Another highlight of the day was the official launch of the Arab Impact Network (AIN), a regional network dedicated to impact investing in the MENA region.
Meaning “source” in Arabic, AIN symbolizes the desire to connect entrepreneurs, financiers, and support structures to strengthen local ecosystems and encourage interregional cooperation.
Faced with a worrying reality—less than 1% of global impact investments are directed towards the MENA region—and declining international funding, AIN's mission is to pool best practices, harmonize impact measurement frameworks, and coordinate advocacy efforts.
As Maya Rahal, Country Director of Alfanar Venture Philanthropy (Lebanon), pointed out:
“Creating real impact cannot be done in isolation. It is essential to bring together different dynamics in such a fragmented context.” "
For his part, Eric Asmar, Managing Director of HAPPY SMALA, reiterated the strategic importance of this regional interconnection:
"Building networks in the Arab world today is a bit like flying: to get from one country to another, you often have to go through Europe. That has to change. Fighting the same battles separately is slow and difficult. Large institutions do not like to engage in dialogue with a fragmented group of isolated actors.
We are talking about connecting markets and coordinating our efforts. Ultimately, instead of waiting for a network to emerge, we decided to create it."
Structuring exchanges and a shared vision
The thematic panels explored the major challenges and drivers of transformation in the sector:
- Regional Insights: overview of impact initiatives in MENA, the Balkans, and Eastern Europe;
- Capital for Good: dialogue between financiers and entrepreneurs on the complementarities between investment and collaborative financing;
- Funding Together: reflection on the role of crowdfunding as a catalyst for social entrepreneurship.
The collaborative workshops addressed key topics such as innovation in financing mechanisms, impact assessment, and the territorial inclusion of entrepreneurs, particularly in rural areas.
These discussions highlighted a shared desire to make impact finance a concrete lever for sustainable economic and social development.
Towards sustainable regional development
Through Impact in the Neighborhood – Casablanca Edition, HAPPY SMALA and its partners reaffirm their commitment to accelerating impact financing in the region and supporting the growth of high-impact companies.
This initiative is fully in line with the mission of the Impact Together! program, which acts as a regional catalyst, strengthening the capacities of stakeholders, stimulating innovation, and promoting inclusive economic opportunities.
A treasure hunt on the road to impact
Following the event, participants took part in a unique “Treasure Hunt,” an impact-driven treasure hunt that took them from Casablanca to Marrakech, where the program's Partners Meeting was held.
Designed as a fun and collaborative experience, this adventure combined puzzle solving, teamwork, and exploration of the region, while highlighting the inspiring journeys of entrepreneurs from the first cohort of the Impact Together! program in Morocco.
Participants were invited to collectively propose innovative and concrete solutions to the issues raised by these entrepreneurs, making this activity a moment of learning, creativity, and cohesion in the service of impact.
Relive the highlights of this treasure hunt in this video, an inspiring human adventure that combines teamwork with the program's mission to make an impact.