Resulting from a partnership between the Federation of Urban Agencies of Morocco "MAJAL" and the Ministry of National Planning, Urban Development, Housing and Urban Policy, this initiative has been widely supported by organizations in charge of urban planning in over a dozen African countries.

The network aims to structure and coordinate the sharing of knowledge, experiences and good practices in urban design. It also aims to be a space for designing robust local urban planning policies for a better life.

In the declaration of creation, the stakeholders affirmed that strengthened cooperation between cities and territories is essential to support the collective effort and create an alliance of good practices in urban planning.

The members of the network also highlighted the achievements and efforts of Moroccan urban agencies, which have developed proven expertise in urban planning.

In a statement to MAP, MAJAL President Amine Idrissi Belkasmi said that this initiative aims to promote the role of the Urban Agency as an instrument and a primary tool to ensure urban planning for harmonious and balanced development.

The launch of this African network of urban agencies and similar institutions aims to spread the Moroccan experience in this area at the level of African cities, he added.

"The brotherly African countries strongly request the support of Morocco in this aspect and we are determined to work together to meet the challenges related to urban planning," Belkasmi said.

Africities summit is considered as the main platform for dialogue on decentralization and local governance that brings together every three years African ministers, mayors, leaders and elected officials of local and regional governments, civil society organizations, traditional authorities, representatives of the African diaspora, economic actors, experts, researchers and academics, financial institutions and development partners.

The theme of the 9th Africities Summit, which runs through May 21, 2022, is "The Role of Intermediary Cities of Africa in the Implementation of Agenda 2030 of the United Nations and the African Union Agenda 2063".

The previous Africities edition was held in Marrakesh from 20 to 24 November 2018.