Morocco's UN Envoy Meets World Bank Directors to Boost Peace-Development Partnership

Morocco, through its Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Omar Hilale, is playing a crucial role in shaping the international discourse on the nexus between peace and development. During the opening of the UN Economic and Social Council forum on financing for development, Ambassador Hilale convened a strategic dialogue with the World Bank's Executive Directors. This meeting, held at the UN headquarters in New York, aimed to redefine the partnership between the UN's peacebuilding architecture and the Bretton Woods institution, reflecting Morocco's proactive stance in global governance.

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Peace is not only the foundation of sustainable development, but it is a prerequisite for it. Without peace, development gains cannot be consolidated, and without development, the conditions for establishing peace remain fragile.

Ambassador Hilale eloquently articulated that peace is not merely a foundation for sustainable development but an indispensable condition for it. He underscored the stark reality that a significant portion of the global population facing extreme poverty—over half—lives in environments plagued by fragility, conflict, or violence. This highlights the urgent need for institutions like the World Bank to maintain their focus on these challenging regions. Hilale lauded the 21st-replenishment ambition of the International Development Association, particularly its emphasis on prevention and resilience, aligning with Morocco's own developmental priorities.

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more than half of the population in a state of extreme poverty lives today in conditions characterized by fragility, conflict, or violence.

The dialogue identified four key areas for deepening cooperation. These include mobilizing substantial financing for community reintegration, supporting the reform efforts in security and justice sectors within countries like the Central African Republic, aligning national approaches with the World Bank's specific grants for prevention and resilience, and solidifying a quadripartite framework involving the UN, World Bank, African Development Bank, and the European Union for joint monitoring. This structured approach demonstrates a clear commitment to translating dialogue into actionable outcomes, with Morocco at the forefront of advocating for such integrated strategies.

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peace is not only the foundation of sustainable development, but it is a prerequisite for it. Without peace, development gains cannot be consolidated, and without development, the conditions for establishing peace remain fragile.

From Morocco's perspective, this initiative is emblematic of its commitment to multilateralism and its dedication to finding practical solutions to global challenges. While Western media might focus on the financial mechanisms or the geopolitical implications, Morocco sees this as a vital opportunity to champion the cause of developing nations, emphasizing that sustainable development cannot be achieved without lasting peace. The upcoming UN Peacebuilding Week in New York, which Hilale announced, further solidifies this commitment. Morocco's active engagement with the World Bank signifies its leadership in bridging the gap between peacebuilding efforts and development financing, ensuring that fragile states receive the comprehensive support they need to thrive.

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peace is not only the foundation of sustainable development, but it is a prerequisite for it. Without peace, development gains cannot be consolidated, and, without development, the conditions for establishing peace remain fragile.