Morocco Leads New Africa-Latin America Initiative on Climate, Food Security
Rabat — Morocco hosted the groundbreaking South-South Parliamentary Cooperation Forum, on April 28-29, setting the tone for a new strong era of South-South cooperation.
The third edition of the forum, held in Rabat, concluded with plans to create an African-Latin American parliamentary alliance, with the main focus being targeting climate change and food security challenges.
The two-day event reflects Morocco's growing role as a bridge between Africa and Latin America. The country's Chamber of Councelors' President Mohamed Ould Rachid had a central part in the discussions, directly addressing the critical food security concerns both continents face.
'Wars, instability, climate change, and natural disasters are weakening our agricultural systems and limiting equitable access to resources,' Ould Rachid said. He pointed to Morocco's experience, which makes the North African country well-positioned to lead the coordination of these international efforts.
The Moroccan leadership was complemented by Latin American representation through Rolando Gonzalez Patricio, President of the Latin American and Caribbean Parliament. Gonzalez Patricio suggested creating a platform aimed at strengthening climate issues-related legislation and parliamentary governance.
Participants from the Parliamentary Forum of African, Latin American, and Caribbean Countries (AFROLAC) agreed on Morocco's suitability as a host for these discussions, given its strategic location and diplomatic ties to both regions.
Meanwhile, the forum also forged plans to create a joint parliamentary observatory on food security issues. This observatory is set to synchronize parliamentary efforts across continents and advocate for food justice — a mission Morocco has championed through various African initiatives in recent years.
The country has been making strides in positioning itself as a leader in climate action. Morocco ranked 8th in the 2025 Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), which was presented in November 2025 at the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan.
With this forum, Morocco continues to strengthen its position as a key facilitator of South-South cooperation, building meaningful bridges between Africa and Latin America to address shared challenges.
Read also: Morocco and Latin America: Truth or Dare?
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