Rabat, Morocco – On the sidelines of the National Conference on Artificial Intelligence, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administration Reform in Morocco signed an agreement to strengthen cooperation to promote inclusive digital transformation in the Arab States and African regions. The new partnership will support countries in strengthening digital public services, advancing the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI), and building institutional and regulatory systems that enable digital transformation and contribute to sustainable development across both regions.

“This partnership underscores our shared commitment to harnessing digital transformation as a powerful enabler of sustainable development and regional integration,” said Marina Walter, Deputy Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States, UNDP. “Morocco is demonstrating great leadership not only in advancing its national digital agenda but also towards helping to shape a collaborative, future-oriented digital ecosystem across the Arab States and African regions—one that is inclusive, resilient, and capable of delivering real impact.”

The collaboration builds on Morocco’s leadership in digital governance, AI, and data science, and is anchored in the new Digital for Sustainable Development Hub initiative, recently launched with UNDP support. It reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that digital transformation delivers tangible development outcomes for all, considering that digital technologies have the potential to impact 70% of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Two thirds of the global population is now online. Internet penetration has grown from 28.8% in 2012 to 70.3% in 2022, in the Arab region and from 25% in 2019 to 38% in 2024, in Africa. Despite this progress, the benefits of digitalization remain uneven, as countries continue to face systemic barriers — including fragmented infrastructure, limited access to AI capabilities, underinvestment in digital innovation, and uncoordinated regulatory frameworks.

The MoU marks a significant milestone in advancing collaboration on Morocco’s digital transition strategy while supporting regional development priorities aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals—reaffirming the commitment of the Government of Morocco to positioning the kingdom as a regional hub for inclusive and rights-based digital transformation, and contributing to UNDP’s global efforts to shape equitable, secure, and development-driven digital cooperation.

For more information or for interest in arranging for media interviews, please contact:

In UNDP Sana Elouazi, Communication Analyst | UNDP Country Office in Morocco | +212 689 194 728 | sana.elouazi@undp.org