In its 2025 report, UNICEF in Morocco emphasized strengthening health and education initiatives, which have supported public efforts to facilitate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These projects have been of paramount importance in a global context where the situation for children is challenging. DR ‹ › In 2025, improving children's health in regional areas was a key priority for UNICEF in Morocco, as part of its support for national efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). According to the organization's report, particular focus was placed on child health in the Marrakech-Safi and Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma regions, in line with «an interministerial and societal approach aimed at addressing the social determinants of health and optimizing resources». Indeed, «the two regions now have consolidated annual reports on child health, facilitating data-driven decision-making», the document notes. In parallel, UNICEF supported the development of training modules on respiratory diseases in children, based on a national guide. This support also aimed to «strengthen the resilience of the health system» and improve preparedness for future health crises. Child vaccination, a public health priority Throughout the year, UNICEF backed national reforms to deliver «concrete results for the most vulnerable children across various sectors», through its cooperation program with Morocco. This effort brought together multiple stakeholders, including government institutions, civil society, media, academia, and the private sector. In this context, UNICEF in Morocco «facilitated the acquisition of 19 million doses of vaccines and nutrients» in 2025, while also supporting «the modernization of the cold chain and efforts to combat vaccine hesitancy». These efforts come as the 2030 deadline for achieving the 17 UN SDGs approaches, with just four years remaining. The organization describes the coming period as «a critical stage» for both achieving the SDGs and advancing Morocco's New Development Model. UNICEF's representative in Morocco, Laura Bill, stressed the importance of maintaining this momentum. «In Morocco, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Living Abroad, we have continued to support national reforms to deliver concrete results for the most vulnerable children», she said. Education and child protection On the child protection front, new standardized procedures have been introduced to «harmonize pathways within the Integrated Territorial Child Protection System, including for children in migration situations». UNICEF also noted that «an evaluation of detention practices and non-custodial alternatives has been completed and now serves as a global reference model». In education, efforts to improve school retention, particularly among girls, have shown promising results. However, nearly 280,000 students dropped out of school in 2025, and «school retention remains a priority» under the government's 2022–2026 roadmap for its flagship schools initiative. In partnership with the Ministry of National Education, Preschool, and Sports, UNICEF has also developed «a multisectoral model for dropout prevention», combining individualized student support with improvements to the learning environment. Among the tools introduced are «a school management guide for principals, a pedagogical guide for teachers, activity guides on social innovation through the UPSHIFT approach, a social innovation and skills development program for young people aged 15 to 24, support for menstrual hygiene, and a child-led advocacy guide». In pilot regions including Beni Mellal-Khénifra, Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma, and the Oriental, these programs have benefited «more than 5,523 young people, including 3,798 girls». UNICEF noted that the evaluation of the project, «Supporting adolescents and young people in their transition from adolescence to adulthood», confirms it as «a good practice based on peer participation, community engagement, and networking». Among the most notable outcomes, «schools succeeded, in 2024–2025, in reducing the dropout rate to 0%». The effectiveness of this model has been such that «its evaluation recommends its institutionalization».
