UNDP Collaborates with Morocco to Foment Inclusive Digital Revolution in Africa and Arab Countries
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Morocco's Ministry of Digital Transition and Administration have joined forces in a significant collaboration aimed at advancing inclusive digital transformation across the Arab States and African regions. This partnership, anchored in the new Digital for Sustainable Development Hub initiative, seeks to enhance digital public services, foster responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI), and develop institutional and regulatory frameworks that support sustainable digital growth and regional integration.
The key objectives of this partnership include improving digital public services, ensuring responsible AI use, and developing robust frameworks that promote sustainable digital growth and regional integration. The partnership will work towards making digital services more accessible and user-friendly, particularly through leveraging AI technologies. It will also focus on ensuring that AI is used responsibly to enhance public services and promote development, addressing challenges such as literacy barriers through innovative solutions like generative AI.
This collaboration contributes significantly to digital transformation by leveraging Morocco's leadership in digital governance, AI, and data science. It aims to build an inclusive, resilient, and capable ecosystem that delivers real impact. By fostering inclusive digital ecosystems, the partnership helps bridge gaps in digital access and innovation, promoting more equitable and sustainable development across the regions.
Marina Walter, Deputy Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States at UNDP, stated that the partnership underscores a shared commitment to harnessing digital transformation. The partnership will support countries in strengthening digital public services, with the potential to impact 70% of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In the Arab region, internet penetration has grown from 28.8% in 2012 to 70.3% in 2022, while in Africa, internet penetration has grown from 25% in 2019 to 38% in 2024. This partnership supports regional development priorities aligned with the SDGs, contributing to UNDP's global efforts to shape equitable, secure, and development-driven digital cooperation.
The MoU reaffirms the commitment of the Government of Morocco to positioning the kingdom as a regional hub for inclusive and rights-based digital transformation. The partnership will deliver tangible development outcomes for all, shaping a collaborative, future-oriented digital ecosystem across the Arab States and African regions. The ecosystem is intended to be inclusive, resilient, and capable of delivering real impact. UNDP recently launched the Digital for Sustainable Development Hub initiative with Morocco's support, marking a significant milestone in advancing Morocco's digital transition strategy.
- This partnership, focusing on digital transformation, aims to enhance digital public services and foster responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) to promote sustainable growth and regional integration.
- The collaboration will leverage Morocco's leadership in digital governance, AI, and data science to build an inclusive, resilient, and capable ecosystem that delivers real impact, bridging gaps in digital access and innovation.
- The partnership is expected to support countries in strengthening digital public services, with the potential to impact 70% of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), contributing to UNDP's global efforts in shaping equitable, secure, and development-driven digital cooperation.
- The partnership is a significant milestone in advancing Morocco's digital transition strategy, as evidenced by the launch of the Digital for Sustainable Development Hub initiative, and reaffirms the commitment of the Government of Morocco to positioning the kingdom as a regional hub for inclusive and rights-based digital transformation, shaping a collaborative, future-oriented digital ecosystem across the Arab States and African regions.
