UNESCO, Morocco Launch $6M Africa Development Deal

UNESCO, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), and the OCP Foundation have signed a new cooperation agreement in Paris, committing $6 million to a tripartite platform aimed at advancing Africa-centered development agendas between 2025 and 2027.

According to a statement by UM6P, the agreement—signed by Mostafa Terrab, Chairman of the OCP Group, and Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO—seeks to reinforce an alliance based on shared ambitions to address the pressing challenges facing the African continent.

Integrated Approach to Education, Science, and Culture

The initiative emphasizes cross-sector collaboration by integrating education, science, technology, and cultural heritage as interlinked drivers of sovereign, inclusive, and sustainable development.

The program will be jointly implemented by UM6P and UNESCO, with strategic and financial backing from the OCP Foundation. The three parties have collaborated since 2017, driven by shared values including long-term investment in knowledge systems, the transformative role of higher education, and locally rooted innovation.

The agreement is built around five complementary thematic pillars, each governed by a separate agreement. This modular structure allows for tailored governance models, timelines, and implementation mechanisms suited to the specific topic areas.

Focus on AI, Heritage, and Innovation in Africa

Mostafa Terrab hailed the partnership as a catalyst for innovation and impact in Africa, emphasizing themes such as artificial intelligence as a key enabler for heritage valorization, innovation, empowerment, and sustainable development. He stressed the continent’s ability to adapt to and accelerate transformative change through unified efforts in education, culture, and emerging technologies.

Audrey Azoulay reaffirmed UNESCO’s commitment to Africa, saying:

“Africa lies at the heart of UNESCO’s priorities. Together with OCP Foundation and UM6P, we will deepen our partnership in the years to come by investing in knowledge, communities, education, heritage, and the environment as non-negotiable pillars of Africa’s development.”

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