On June 10, 2025, in the Blue Zone of the Port of Lympia in Nice, the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection organized a side event titled “Innovation in Africa to Accelerate Sustainable Development Goal 14.” This event builds on major initiatives, such as the African Preparatory Consultations for the UNOC-3 conference held in Tangier in October 2024, and the high-level preparatory workshop co-organized with the French Embassy in Morocco on May 9, 2025, at the Hassan II International Center for Environmental Training.

As a founding member of the Alliance for the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030), the Foundation is deeply committed to this decade, for which Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa is the patron of the Alliance, a high-level coalition advancing the Decade worldwide.

At the heart of the discussions were: strengthening marine science to inform policy decisions, deploying inclusive governance, and developing innovative solutions tailored to African contexts.

The event was co-organized by the Foundation along with the State Secretariat for Maritime Fisheries, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO), the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco, the Schmidt Ocean Institute, the Ocean & Climate Platform, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the Cortés Solari Philanthropy, the Oceano Azul Foundation, and the Foundation for Environmental Education (Blue Flag).

Discussions focused on:

• The importance of oceanographic expeditions and open-access data sharing to guide national strategies;
• South-South partnerships to facilitate technology transfer and best practices—from marine spatial planning to eco-certification (Blue Flag program) and the restoration of coastal ecosystems (mangroves, reefs);
• Mobilizing public, private, and philanthropic funding, supported by mentoring and capacity-building programs for young researchers and coastal communities.

In reference  to its mission of education and awareness-raising, the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection gave a voice to African youth through its initiative “Mentored Pathway: Ocean Sciences for Sustainable Development.” The main goal of this project is to empower young Africans by equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to ensure ocean sustainability through a multidisciplinary approach, combining lab internships and sea expeditions. The program was endorsed by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development as an official Decade Activity for the year 2025.