Morocco, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has launched the Digital for Sustainable Development (D4SD) Hub, a major initiative to accelerate digital transformation. Unveiled during the 80th UN General Assembly, the hub is supported by a $38 million budget over three years and aims to advance the adoption of AI and digital public infrastructure across Africa and the Arab States.
A Hub For Co-Creating Digital Solutions
The D4SD Hub is designed to co-create, pilot, and scale inclusive digital solutions to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It will focus on applying artificial intelligence tools in critical sectors such as health, education, climate resilience, and governance. A core objective of the initiative is to empower women and youth, positioning them as leaders in the region’s burgeoning digital economy.
A Strategic Pillar For Regional Leadership
The launch is a key component of the ‘Digital Morocco 2030’ national strategy, which seeks to establish AI as a pillar of the country’s development. “The adoption of Artificial Intelligence has emerged as a decisive global issue, and Morocco is determined to play an active role by harnessing this technology in the service of inclusive and sustainable human development,” stated HE Aziz Akhannouch, Head of Government of Morocco.
The initiative reinforces Morocco’s recent moves to build a robust AI ecosystem, including partnership talks with OpenAI and a cooperation deal with French AI startup Mistral. Haoliang Xu, UNDP Acting Administrator, emphasized the hub’s collaborative nature, calling it “a platform for countries to co-design, test, and scale digital solutions that serve people and the planet.”
About The Digital for Sustainable Development Hub
The D4SD Hub is a joint initiative between the Government of Morocco and the UNDP. Its mission is to leverage digital innovation and AI to accelerate progress on the SDGs throughout Africa and the Arab States. The hub’s work aligns with several key frameworks, including the UN Secretary-General’s Roadmap for Digital Cooperation, UNDP’s Global Digital Strategy, and the digital agendas of both the African Union and the Arab League.
Source: MEA TechWatch
