The Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, stated that the new United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2023-2027 is an ambitious program in line with national development priorities, underlining that it is perfectly aligned with the axes and objectives of the New Development Model, advocated by His Majesty King Mohammed VI.
Bourita affirmed that this framework “reflects Morocco’s commitment to achieving its international obligations as defined in the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda,” noting that this framework focuses on fields requiring further efforts to meet the challenges of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
Noting that Morocco is on the right track to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), Bourita stated that this Framework is part of the new generation of cooperation instruments following the United Nations development system reform, adding that it is the outcome of a transparent and inclusive process of dialogue and preparation, involving all the constituents of the United Nations Development System (UNDS), several ministerial departments, relevant national institutions and civil society under the shared priority for action.
In the same context, the Minister stressed that Morocco, under the High Instructions of His Majesty the King, is willing to exchange expertise, considering that the United Nations (UN) System can serve as a facilitator thanks to its global network.
Bourita further stated that the signing of this Cooperation Framework marks the official launch of a new stage in the partnership between Morocco and the United Nations Development System (UNDS), noting that it offers the opportunity to further strengthen cooperation between the two parties and to contribute to Morocco’s development by adapting to new emerging issues.
The Minister further noted, in this regard, that the new Cooperation Framework serves as a shared roadmap for the United Nations’ (UN) support for Morocco’s development efforts, stating that if the preparation of this Framework was created through an inclusive and participatory approach, its implementation and evaluation must also adhere to the same standards in terms of inclusiveness, transparency and commitment.
In a similar context, Bourita outlined a few requirements for the achievement of the objectives of this new Cooperation Framework, including the commitment of all parties to repositioning the United Nations (UN) team’s action to provide adequate support, in a partnership framework based on consultation and transparency, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, in its capacity as National Coordinator with the United Nations (UN) System.
The Foreign Minister further emphasized the need for innovative and systemic cooperation projects that have a tangible and visible impact, mentioning the experience of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Accelerator Labs as an example. The goal of these labs is to support new approaches and innovative and appropriate solutions for complex development challenges.
The Minister also highlighted the importance of promoting multi-stakeholder and multi-sector partnerships, underlining the necessity to take proactive measures to support promising partnerships, with attainable and quantifiable objectives.
In addition, Bourita emphasized the importance of investing in South-South and triangular cooperation as a strategic priority, in order to support regional integration and development in Africa, noting that Morocco created a cooperation strategy centered on large-scale structuring projects that will generate wealth, growth, and result in a positive effect on stability and peace in the continent.
Bourita stressed the importance of a better repositioning of the Moroccan party to be able to support the path of emergence that Morocco has chosen to take by new ideas and innovative projects, recalling that this Cooperation Framework, which was prepared in a context of poly-crisis that has impacted Morocco as all countries, must serve as a unifying instrument to mobilize several actors in support of the government’s response and recovery policies.