UNESCO and the Morocco 2030 Foundation have signed a major partnership agreement in Rabat, covering the period 2025-2030.
The collaboration aims to leverage sport as a powerful tool for education, social inclusion, and community cohesion. This partnership is strategically timed to maximize the social impact of the high-profile sporting events Morocco is preparing to host, including the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AfCON), the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup (2025-2029), and the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Notably, this is the Morocco 2030 Foundation’s first agreement dedicated specifically to the social and educational dimensions of sport.
“With the Morocco 2030 Foundation, we are making sport a driver of education and inclusion,” said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay. She emphasized that these initiatives will “transform the momentum of major sporting events held in Morocco into sustainable actions benefiting young people and local communities.”
Sport as a tool for sustainable development
Fouzi Lekjaa, President of the Morocco 2030 Foundation, underlined that the agreement is “in line with the enlightened vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.” He affirmed that the partnership will contribute to strengthening the role of sport, particularly football, as a tool for sustainable development and social inclusion.
The first joint initiative resulting from this cooperation is titled “From Stadiums to Territories: Sport, a Driver of Change.” This UNESCO-funded project, implemented with the Foundation, seeks to create a lasting social legacy following the 2025 AfCON. The project is structured around three main pillars: “AfCON of Citizenship”: Community tournaments designed to promote civic values. “Values of Sport”: A national campaign centered on ethical and positive sporting values. “Equality and Development through Sport”: A festival that includes a specific focus on the empowerment of girls and women.
As the UN’s lead agency for physical education and sport, UNESCO will support the Foundation in designing and monitoring an innovative model that effectively links sport, education, and territorial development. The ultimate goal is to make sporting values a driving force for solidarity and sustainable development for future generations.
MK/te/Sf/fss/abj/APA