Morocco to host headquarters of Permanent Secretariat of Union of African Economic and Social Councils

Morocco will host the headquarters of the Permanent secretariat of the Union of African Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions (UCESA).

The headquarters agreement for the establishment of the UCESA Permanent Secretariat in Morocco was signed Wednesday in Rabat by Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and President of the UCESA Ahmed Reda Chami.

This agreement testifies to the special interest Morocco vests in African cooperation, grounded in the principles of supportive and active cooperation and shared prosperity for both Morocco and its African partners.

The permanent secretariat will seek to enhance the Union’s visibility, as well as its referencing among international partners, enabling the UCESA to play a leading role in African integration.

The signing of this agreement is part of the implementation of a resolution of the extraordinary session of UCESA General Assembly, held on October 08 in Brazzaville. The resolution designated Morocco as host country for the UCESA Permanent Secretariat.

This initiative also crowns a process of restructuring and reinvigoration of the Union, carried out under the presidency of Morocco’s Economic, Social and Environmental Council, which has equipped the Union with appropriate legal and institutional tools and contributed more effectively to the continent’s development agendas.

Under the terms of this agreement, the UCESA, as an international organization created by the African member States of the United Nations, will operate on Moroccan territory in accordance with a particular legal regime granting it the privileges, immunities and facilities necessary to carry out, in complete independence, its activities and actions of an economic and social nature, which serve as an important auxiliary support to the efforts made by the governments of African states to achieve African integration.

This headquarters agreement is also an essential lever for the UCESA’s continued alignment with the agendas of the Regional Economic Communities (ECOWAS, ECCAS, UEMOA, etc.) and the African Union. It will also help implement projects geared to the needs of African citizens, with the support of reference partners (China, EU, ECOSOCC, UM6P, PCNS, IOM, AfDB World Bank, IPCC, etc.)

Given this impetus, the UCESA, which brings together the Economic and Social Councils of African member states of the United Nations, has strengthened its expansion with the accession of Togo, Zimbabwe and soon Equatorial Guinea and Madagascar.

The UCESA has also strengthened its substantial contribution to shaping regional integration policies, programs, and projects, particularly in the areas of climate action and the monitoring of the effectiveness of fundamental economic, social, cultural and environmental rights.

The headquarters agreement between Morocco and the UCESA underscores the fact that Morocco is a preferred destination for many international organizations seeking to establish their permanent headquarters or regional representation.