Moroccan Partnership Aims to Train a New Generation of Global Advocates for Peace, Rights, and Diplomacy

Casablanca, Morocco — A groundbreaking partnership has been signed between three institutions: the National School of Commerce and Management of Casablanca (ENCG Casablanca), the International Center for Diplomacy (ICD), and the Geneva-based Observatory for Peace, Democracy and Human Rights (IOPDHR-GENEVA). This tripartite agreement is designed to empower students, professors, and civil society actors with the tools to lead in the fields of human rights advocacy, diplomacy, conflict resolution, and international governance.

The partnership reflects a bold vision to strengthen South-South and South-North cooperation by bridging academic excellence with civil society expertise and multilateral diplomacy. By combining ENCG’s academic strength with ICD’s youth diplomacy platforms and IOPDHR’s global human rights advocacy experience, the initiative seeks to build a new ecosystem of leadership rooted in international legality, equity, and sustainable development.

The agreement includes the creation and support of student clubs within ENCG Casablanca focused on global advocacy, UN mechanisms, mediation, and peacebuilding. These clubs will receive direct mentorship from ICD and IOPDHR, ensuring exposure to real-world diplomatic processes, including UN simulations (MUNs), the production of shadow reports, and participation in consultations at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.

A key element of the initiative is the promotion of international advocacy on the Moroccan Sahara issue. Students and faculty will be trained to engage diplomatically on this national priority within the framework of international law, with the aim of developing a new generation of human rights ambassadors and credible youth voices on the global stage.

IOPDHR-GENEVA brings to the table its extensive work in international monitoring, legal research, and diplomatic advocacy, particularly in the MENA, Sahel, and African Union contexts. Its contribution will also focus on resilience-building in response to humanitarian crises, the climate-peace nexus, and inclusive governance in fragile regions.

ICD, meanwhile, will deploy its flagship programs—such as YouthLead AfricaNextGen, OutspokenGirls, Peace1325, and the ICD Policy Hub—to channel student potential into structured global engagement. These programs are designed to reinforce leadership, multilateral negotiation skills, and civic innovation across Africa and the diaspora.

ENCG Casablanca will act as both a hub and incubator, offering institutional support and academic space for all activities, while embedding these initiatives into the school’s strategic vision for internationalization, responsible citizenship, and business with human rights.

The partnership not only advances academic and civil society collaboration, but also highlights Morocco’s commitment to shaping future leaders capable of contributing meaningfully to global policy debates. With cross-cutting priorities including gender equality, peace and security, climate resilience, and the right to development, this initiative positions Casablanca as a rising node for transnational thought leadership and action.