The UNDP in Morocco launched AKID2030, a community engagement initiative to support the nation’s efforts to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. The the campaign shares messages of determination, confidence and hope, a growing need that has become especially acute because of the confinement, stress and uncertainty that the pandemic brought about.

“The pandemic has exposed perilous gaps, in Morocco and around the world. There is no vaccine and no cure – yet,” said Martine Therer, UNDP Deputy Representative in Morocco. “But there is one certainty; solidarity offers the best hope to meet this challenge, and to keep moving forward community engagement is key…for sure!”

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) charted a path to a better future for humanity by 2030, Ms. Therer explained. To be able to achieve the SDGs by the set deadline, especially with the enormous hurdle on this path that COVID-19 presents, countries have no time to waste, and no room to lose heart. The choice of AKID —Arabic for certainly— as a name for the campaign was a declaration of resolve that despite COVID-19, all will join hands to ensure that Morocco achieves the SDGs by 2030

The AKID 2030 campaign encourages a daily stream of optimism and positive vibes, boosting morale in these hard times of lockdown. Celebrities, artists, medical doctors, youth leaders, students, writers, journalists, academics and regular citizens are joining, lending strength to each other and refreshing hearts with messages of hope.

More than 50 messages have been posted already. True to Morocco’s diversity, some of the messages posted are from people of diverse origins living in the country, but also from friends of Morocco who now live in Nepal, Central Africa, South Korea and Lebanon.

Every crisis brings opportunities. This COVID-19 outbreak has laid bare the vulnerabilities of our globalized societies. Yet, it has also highlighted that we are not just in this difficult situation together: we will also emerge from it together, and with a shared determination to meet whatever challenges that await. Can we beat the odds of whatever comes next? Akid! Certainly!

Watch AKID 2030 statements through this link.

Based on a story by the UN Information Centre in Rabat.