Morocco – United Kingdom: A Strengthened Partnership for Climate-Related Scientific Research

The prospects of Moroccan-British cooperation in the field of climate-related scientific research were at the heart of a high-level meeting held Thursday in Marrakech, with the participation of more than 70 Moroccan and British actors from academia and the private sector.

Initiated by the British Council in Morocco, under the theme “Climate Links: Moroccan-British Cooperation in Skills and Scientific Research”, this event highlighted the importance of academic and training partnerships in supporting the transition to a green economy and strengthening human capacities in the face of climate change challenges.

This meeting was held in the presence, notably, of the UK Ambassador to Morocco, Alex Pinfield, as well as officials from the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, and the Ministry of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills, who emphasized that bilateral cooperation in scientific research constitutes an essential lever for climate innovation and for training a new generation of researchers capable of proposing practical, science-based solutions.

One of the highlights of this meeting was dedicated to young researchers’ projects, during which 16 Moroccan and British researchers presented innovative solutions developed under the British Council’s “Researcher Challenge” program, covering several areas, including climate-smart agriculture benefiting rural women, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for inclusive climate governance, the reduction of food waste through digital innovation, as well as strengthening argan tree value chains in the face of climate change.

The Director of the British Council in Morocco, Alexandra Balafrej, stated that “the ability to face climate change depends on the development of skills, scientific research, and cooperation,” noting that the institution “connects Moroccan and British institutions in order to transform research into action and skills into impact, serving common ambitions for a sustainable future.”

For her part, the Director of Cooperation and Partnership at the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, Oulaya Chouay, highlighted the strength of Moroccan-British relations in the fields of research and innovation, noting that bilateral partnerships “have contributed to strengthening the capacities of Moroccan researchers and increased the number of joint publications to around 1,200 in 2023–2024, with a 30% increase in one year.”

“This cooperation is fully in line with national priorities regarding sustainable development, energy transition and climate action,” she added.

For his part, the Vice-President of Hassan II University of Casablanca in charge of scientific research, cooperation and partnership, Mustapha Lkhider, stated that this meeting represents an opportunity to strengthen the exchange of expertise between Moroccan and British universities, particularly in the field of developing skills among young researchers.

He also pointed out that Moroccan universities benefit from advanced British models in terms of evaluation, with the aim of adapting them to the national context, which contributes to enhancing the visibility of Moroccan scientific research on an international scale.

The participants also reviewed the progress made within the framework of the British Council’s programs, notably “Researcher Challenge,” “Research Environment Links” and “International Skills Partnerships,” which contribute to capacity building, the promotion of green skills, and the evolution of research ecosystems in line with climate-related issues.

The program of this meeting included thematic sessions on the role of partnerships in strengthening universities’ ability to face climate change, the development of green skills in higher education and vocational training systems, as well as ways to translate scientific research into concrete solutions that generate added value for the green economy.

It should be recalled that the British Council, through its “Climate Connection 2026” strategy, works to place education, research, arts and skills at the heart of strengthening resilience to climate change, thus reflecting the move toward a strengthened strategic climate partnership between Morocco and the United Kingdom.