2016 has been an important year for diversity advantage in Morocco.

The year opened with the presentation of the Intercultural Cities concept to a group of 11 Moroccan cities (Tanger, Agadir, Meknes, Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, Chefchaouen, Tetouan, Kenitra, Martil, and Larache). The cities enthusiastically welcome the idea of joining the movement for making diversity advantage work and the efforts to set up a formal national network were immediately started.

In October representatives from Tetouan and Rabat participated to the event on “Tackling prejudice and engaging with religious minorities”, involving over 70 participants and hosted in Donostia/San Sebastián, Spain, as part of their programme of activities as the European Capital of Culture. Representatives from the network also took part to the annual meeting of the Spanish Network and to the Lisbon Forum organised by the North-South Centre and focusing on best practices and shared knowledge on migration and human rights.

The closing of the year has marked another milestone for the network with the signing of a formal Cooperation Agreement between the Moroccan Network of Intercultural Cities (RMCI) and the Council of Europe in December. The network is constituted by the cities of Tanger, Agadir, Meknes, Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, Chefchaouen, Tetouan, Kenitra, Martil, and Larache and chaired by M. Mohammed el Bachir Abdellaoui, Mayor of Tanger. Through this agreement the RMCI is engaging in bringing the knowledge and experience acquired at international level to Morocco, and allowing Moroccan cities to share their experiences amongst themselves and members of the European and other national networks (Italy, Norway, Portugal and Ukraine).

Therefore 2017 already brings into the family of Intercultural Cities 11 more cities committed to recognize the potential and the value of migration and the diversity advantage.