This support was announced at the opening of the 210th Session of the UNESCO Executive Board (Dec.2-Jan.27) by the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom to UNESCO, Ambassador Samir Addahre.

"Following the announcement of your candidacy for a second term, I take this opportunity to express to you, Madam Director-General, on behalf of Morocco, our full support," he said in a statement at the plenary debate of this Session.

"This support is consistent with our position which welcomes your reforming action," he said.

For Addahre, the consecration of UNESCO's role requires "in these times of uncertainty" strong support for its leadership and authority on the strategic projects initiated by Ms. Audrey Azoulay "and which cover the full spectrum of the organization's mandate.

This requires the mobilization of the necessary and essential financial and human resources to enable UNESCO to implement its strategies and multisectoral programs, he said.

Azoulay took office on November 15, 2017. She succeeded Irina Bokova, the first woman to head UNESCO.

The 210th session of the UNESCO Executive Board is held in two parts: the first part is held in virtual format through December, while the second part should be held in person as of early January if health conditions allow it.

Besides "Priority Africa", education and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, gender issues, cultural heritage preservation, adapting to the evolution of artificial intelligence and open science are among the main topics of this session.