Dakar: AfricUpdate – News Desk
The meeting aimed to set priorities, strengthen cooperation between French-speaking and African councils and promote governance initiatives. Abdelkader Amara, President of Morocco’s Economic, Social, and Environmental Council (CESE), took part in the first meeting of the Bureau of the Union of French-Speaking Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions (UCESIF) for the period 2025-2028 in Brussels on Monday. The meeting, held at the headquarters of the Central Economic Council of Belgium, was chaired by Eugène Aka Aouélé, President of the Economic, Social, Environmental, and Cultural Council (CESEC) of Côte d’Ivoire, who was elected the new President of UCESIF.
The main objective of this inaugural meeting was to define the priorities of the Francophone Union for the period 2025-2028. It also provided an opportunity to examine possible convergences with the Union of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions of Africa (UCESA), currently chaired by Mr. Amara. The discussions highlighted joint advocacy actions, particularly around the document entitled “Strengthening Water Governance in the French-Speaking World through the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems Nexus.” Developed with the support of the ESEC Morocco and UCESA, this text aims to promote integrated and sustainable management of water resources, consistent with climate and development objectives.
Mr. Amara reiterated the commitment of the ESEC Morocco to the role of UCESIF, which he chaired from 2015 to 2017, during which time its social charter, inspired by the Moroccan experience, was adopted. Accompanied by Younès Benakki, Secretary General of the Council, he emphasized the importance of supporting member bodies as consultative bodies guiding public policies and as actors promoting social cohesion and participatory democracy.
Speaking also as President of UCESA, Mr. Amara highlighted the pragmatic cooperation already established between UCESA and UCESIF. According to him, this collaboration has enabled progress on joint initiatives, particularly in the fight against climate change and water governance, and deserves to be strengthened. For his part, Eugène Aka Aouélé welcomed the close partnership between the Moroccan CESE and the CESEC of Côte d’Ivoire, which he presented as a concrete illustration of the dynamics of cooperation between African and French-speaking consultative institutions.
