Towards Structured Technical Support for Cooperatives in Morocco: Strategic Diagnosis and Integrated Needs Assessment to Enhance Value Chain Performance

Abstract

This article proposes a structured approach to the evaluation and technical support of cooperatives, based on an integrated multicriteria diagnostic. The selected criteria cover three complementary dimensions: technical and organizational (50%), managerial (25%), and digital (25%), broken down into operational sub-criteria assessed on a Likert scale (1 to 5). The weighting was assigned according to their relative importance for organizational performance and resilience. In a context where cooperatives play a key role in territorial development, it is necessary to move beyond fragmented interventions by adopting analytical tools that provide a comprehensive and operational reading of their capacities and needs.

The methodology combines quantitative and qualitative tools: a self-assessment questionnaire (62 items), semi-structured interviews, and participatory focus groups, within a triangulation logic aimed at strengthening reliability. It was applied to a sample of 40 cooperatives and led to the selection of two pilot cooperatives, based on a global score reflecting their level of organizational maturity. The results highlight the relevance of a structured diagnosis to guide targeted, progressive, and reproducible support actions. However, the study presents certain limitations: the sample remains limited and focused on cooperatives already benefiting from support programs; in addition, the weighting of criteria partly relies on the researchers’ judgment, which calls for caution in generalizing the results. Despite these limitations, the approach offers a reproducible methodological basis transferable to other sectors of the social and solidarity economy. Although centered on the diagnostic phase, it opens perspectives for integration into comprehensive support systems, including impact assessment and longitudinal monitoring. It thus constitutes a strategic tool to strengthen the sustainability, efficiency, and resilience of cooperatives.

Keywords: Cooperative, multicriteria diagnosis, technical support, social economy, methodological transferability.

Classification JEL: B55

Paper type: Empirical Research