Introducing the First African Forum for Civil Society
The Moroccan Center for Volunteering and Citizenship is set to host the inaugural African Forum for Civil Society Organizations from April 21 to 24 in Casablanca. This significant event is themed "Volunteering for Integration, Solidarity, and Bringing African Peoples Together," reflecting the forum's core objectives of enhancing cooperation and fostering dialogue across the continent.
As per the organizers' announcement, the forum will bring together institutional leaders responsible for volunteering and representatives from civil society organizations from approximately fifteen African nations. The aim is to create a strategic dialogue space, share experiences, and build innovative partnerships among volunteer actors across Africa. Mohamed El Ousfour, the president of the Moroccan Center for Volunteering and Citizenship, emphasized that this forum is a major opportunity to strengthen the culture of volunteering in Africa, highlighting its role as a catalyst for human development and social cohesion. He noted that the forum would focus on identifying innovative mechanisms to support and structure volunteer efforts aimed at benefiting African societies.
Strengthening African Solidarity Through Cooperation
Khalil Benabdellah, vice president of the center, pointed out that this initiative aligns with the vision of the Kingdom of Morocco, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, which prioritizes solidarity and humanitarian action as fundamental commitments to the African continent. He mentioned that Morocco has distinguished itself through numerous cooperation and assistance initiatives benefiting both brotherly and friendly nations, including humanitarian actions, the establishment of field hospitals, and the provision of COVID-19 vaccines to several states.
Given the increasing challenges related to sustainable development, social cohesion, and economic resilience across the continent, this gathering aims to promote African cooperation based on solidarity, civic engagement, and collective action. The forum will address the development of impactful social projects, share successful experiences, and strengthen sustainable partnerships among African organizations.
Participating countries include Libya, Togo, Cameroon, Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burkina Faso, the Comoros, Mali, Djibouti, Mauritania, Burundi, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Benin, Egypt, and Tunisia. At the conclusion of the forum, attendees are expected to adopt the "Casablanca Declaration," which will serve as a key document to enhance African cooperation in the field of volunteering and pave the way for discussions on the establishment of an African Union for Volunteering.
As reported by lopinion.ma.
