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Rabat — Morocco continues to forge its position as a pioneer in preserving Africa’s architectural memory. The country’s Archive du Maroc and France’s prestigious École Nationale des Chartes signed a landmark agreement on Friday, creating a framework for cooperation, coordination, and exchange in archive training and research.
The signing of the agreement took place on the first day of the busy International Publishing and Book Fair (SIEL), taking place in Rabat from April 18-27.
For Morocco, already renowned for its rich cultural heritage spanning millennia, the agreement symbolizes its emerging leadership in the preservation of the documented legacy of urban development across the continent, as it aims to create pathways for future generations to understand how their cities evolved.
Signed by the Director of Archives du Maroc Latifa Moftaqir and the Director of École des chartes Michelle Bubenicek, the partnership falls under the UNESCO Chair Archives at the Service of Nations and African Societies initiative.
Both institutions have pledged to identify common interests and develop joint projects according to French and Moroccan legislation within mutually agreed boundaries.
“This agreement aims to highlight shared collections on urbanism and architecture between our institutions,” Moftaqir told Morocco’s MAP news agency.
She pointed out that the convention covers multiple cooperation areas, particularly archive training, to promote expertise and experience exchange.
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For his part, Bubenicek spoke of Morocco’s leadership in the field of architecture preservation, saying it “is an exemplary country in architecture, environment, heritage, and territorial archives.”
Meanwhile, Bubenicek expressed enthusiasm about developing promising projects to strengthen the two countries’ partnership in this realm.
The agreement includes international research actions to promote archives knowledge and make them accessible to a wider audience.
Both institutions are also set to create a map of preserved collections in both countries related to territorial history, urbanism, and architecture.
Additionally, their work will promote necessary practices and systems for conservation, accessibility, and enhancement of archives to African public and private institutions. This effort aims to improve knowledge and ownership of architectural heritage throughout the continent.
Morocco’s leadership role in this partnership reflects the country’s growing influence in preserving and researching architectural and urban planning archives across Africa.
