At a three-day conference on the theme, Making Slums History; A Global Challenge for 2020, officials sought to develop specific recommendations and guidelines for slum improvement, sharing and broadening the scope of experiences as well as devising a strategy for revising the slum target of the Millennium Development Goals. 

Minister of State, Mr. Baha Abdallah, cited the importance Morocco attached to South-South cooperation. He said Morocco looked forward to strengthened historic and cultural ties with other African countries. 

UN-Habitat Executive Director Dr. Joan Close called for a two pronged approach in addressing slums as a challenge and opportunity. The first calls for the development of national urban policies. The second calls for the development of city extension plans which takes into consideration the future development of cities as opposed to reacting to developmental challenges that come with urbanization. Dr. Clos also praised Morocco’s success in eliminating slums, for which the country was awarded the 2010 UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award. 

This week’s conference is the culmination of a partnership forged between Morocco and UN Habitat more than 20 years ago.