UNESCO and Morocco 2030 Join Forces for Sports
UNESCO and the Morocco 2030 Foundation Seal Agreement to Promote Sports and Inclusion
On Tuesday in Rabat, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Morocco 2030 Foundation signed a partnership agreement covering the period from 2025 to 2030. The aim is to leverage sports as a strategic tool for education, social inclusion, and territorial cohesion.
According to UNESCO, this agreement is aligned with the national momentum surrounding major sporting events that Morocco will host, notably the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2025, the Women’s U-17 World Cup (2025–2029), and the 2030 World Cup.
This marks the first agreement of the Morocco 2030 Foundation that is fully dedicated to the social and educational dimensions of sports, representing a significant step in its commitment to sustainable territorial development.
Sports as a Driver of Education and Cohesion
“With the Morocco 2030 Foundation, we are making sports a driving force for education and inclusion,” stated UNESCO’s Director-General, Audrey Azoulay. She emphasized that these initiatives will transform the momentum generated by major international competitions into lasting benefits for youth and local communities.
Fouzi Lekjaa, President of the Morocco 2030 Foundation, noted that this agreement aligns “with the enlightened vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.” He highlighted the role of sports, particularly football, as a tool for sustainable development and social inclusion.
A First Major Project: “From Stadiums to Communities”
The first initiative stemming from this partnership is the program “From Stadiums to Communities: Sports as a Catalyst for Change,” financed by UNESCO and implemented in collaboration with the Morocco 2030 Foundation. This program aims to embed the social legacy of the AFCON 2025 around three major axes:
Community Tournaments “Citizen’s AFCON”
National Campaign “Values of Sports”
Festival “Equality and Development through Sports”, including a module dedicated to young girls and women
As the leading agency of the United Nations system for physical education and sports, UNESCO will support the Morocco 2030 Foundation in implementing an innovative model that brings together sports, education, equality, and sustainable development.
Through this strategic agreement, both institutions reaffirm their shared ambition: to transform the values of sports into a driving force for education, solidarity, and sustainable progress for the benefit of Moroccan youth and communities.
