Morocco: Launch of the African Platform AF-UAP
Morocco is set to launch the Regional Platform of the New Urban Agenda for Africa (AF-UAP), a collaborative digital tool of continental scale supported by UN-Habitat. This ambitious initiative, led by the Ministry of National Territorial Planning, Urbanism, Habitat, and City Policy, follows the 2023/5 decision by the UN-Habitat Governing Council, which encourages member states to create regional platforms to accelerate and harmonize the implementation of the New Urban Agenda (NAU).
With its proven experience in South-South cooperation and numerous agreements signed since 2018 between Moroccan and African cities, Morocco is positioning itself as a key player in building an integrated urban model that serves the continent. The future AF-UAP platform aims to be a collaborative digital space, designed to enhance urban capacities, pool resources, and facilitate the sharing of expertise among African countries.
An Innovative Tool for African Urban Policies
The main objectives of the platform will be:
To integrate the New Urban Agenda into national policies;
To strengthen member states’ participation in producing and sharing strategic reports;
To pool knowledge and enhance urban skills;
To develop a South-South cooperation hub tailored to the continent’s realities;
To establish a sustainable economic model that promotes the gradual empowerment of local actors.
On the technical side, the project relies on a modern and scalable digital architecture. It includes:
The creation of a web and mobile visual identity inspired by African aesthetics;
The development of a platform based on Drupal 11, with a scalable multi-tenant architecture;
The realization of a hybrid mobile application (iOS/Android) connected to the platform;
The deployment and full management of updates on the ministry’s infrastructure;
The publication of the application on the Apple Store and the Play Store.
The initial launch will take place in five pilot countries: Morocco, Senegal, Ghana, Rwanda, and Kenya, before gradually expanding to the entire continent. The project will also build on reference documents from UN-Habitat and the ministry, as well as on Majal agreements used as case studies.
A comprehensive training and skills transfer program will accompany this rollout. It will benefit the African teams utilizing the platform as well as Moroccan technicians, ensuring effective and sustainable ownership of this strategic tool.
Persistent Global Urban Challenges
The development of this platform occurs within a global context marked by major urban challenges. According to UN-Habitat’s 2024 report:
318 million people worldwide are homeless;
One in four individuals lives in conditions detrimental to health and safety;
14% of urban residents and 40% of rural inhabitants lack access to safely managed drinking water;
1.1 billion people live in slums, with 90% in Africa and Asia;
Nearly 40% of the global population does not have access to safe sanitation services;
It is necessary to build 96,000 housing units per day by 2030 to meet global demands;
By 2040, 2 billion urban residents will be exposed to significant temperature increases.
These figures highlight the urgent need to adopt resilient, inclusive, and sustainable urban policies. With the AF-UAP platform, Morocco aims to equip Africa with a structuring tool capable of supporting necessary transformations while strengthening urban governance across the continent.
