Unesco and Morocco 2030 Foundation partner to leverage sports for education and inclusion

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Morocco 2030 Foundation signed a partnership agreement on Tuesday in Rabat, establishing a cooperation framework for the period 2025–2030. The initiative aims to leverage sports as a tool for education, inclusion, and social cohesion.

According to a statement from UNESCO, the agreement aligns with Morocco’s growing momentum as the country prepares to host several major events, including the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the Under-17 Women’s World Cup (2025–2029), and the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

This marks the first agreement by the Morocco 2030 Foundation focused on the social and educational dimensions of sport, representing a key milestone in its commitment to sustainable territorial development.

«With the Morocco 2030 Foundation, we are making sport a driver of education and inclusion», said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, as quoted in the statement. «Through such initiatives, we will turn the momentum of major events organized in the Kingdom into sustainable action for young people and local communities».

For his part, Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Morocco 2030 Foundation, stated that the agreement with UNESCO will «strengthen the role of sport, particularly football, as a tool for sustainable development and a vector for social inclusion».

The first initiative under this partnership, titled «From Stadiums to Territories: Sports as a Catalyst for Change», will be funded by UNESCO and implemented in cooperation with the Morocco 2030 Foundation.

The project aims to embed the social legacy of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations through three key components: community tournaments known as «Citizenship CAN», a national campaign on sports values, and a festival called «Equality and Development through Sports», which includes a dedicated module for young girls and women.