Rabat:A new memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Union of Economic and Social Councils of Africa (UCESA) and the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) of the African Union in Rabat. This agreement was initialed by Abdelkader Amara, the current president of UCESA and the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE) of Morocco, alongside Louis Cheick Sissoko, president of ECOSOCC of the African Union. The MoU aims to enhance cooperation on economic, social, cultural, and environmental issues, aligning with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, Amara emphasized that the MoU reflects a mutual desire from both institutions to deepen their cooperation and strengthen their role in the economic, social, and human development of the African continent. The partnership is built on the existing complementarity between UCESA and ECOSOCC, with the latter serving as a framework for civil society participation within the African Union, while UCESA supports dialogue, social cohesion, and public policy development at the national level.

Amara noted that this collaboration will combine expertise and enhance the analytical capacities of both institutions to address emerging issues. It also provides a platform for consultations on significant African challenges and the formulation of proposals to enrich discussions within the African Union. The strategic projects of the continent, such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), energy transition, innovation, food sovereignty, and youth employment, are of particular importance under this partnership, and it highlights the necessity of mobilizing all economic and social actors towards common goals.

Louis Cheick Sissoko reiterated the importance of strengthening cooperation between UCESA and ECOSOCC, noting their shared belief that Africa’s development must involve those who experience and contribute to it daily. He underscored ECOSOCC’s central role as an advisory body within the African Union, bringing the voice of African civil society into continental policies, and stressed the shift from grand declarations to tangible results.

The memorandum of understanding establishes clear priorities, focusing on Agenda 2063, the Sustainable Development Goals, free movement, and the AfCFTA. It includes provisions for organizing regular consultations and activities to enhance the networking of members from both institutions.