The Moroccan National Archives and the National School of Archival Studies in France signed a cooperation agreement on Friday in Rabat aimed at strengthening collaboration in the fields of training and research related to archives.
The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the thirtieth edition of the International Book and Publishing Fair by the Director of the Moroccan Archives, Latifa Meftaker, and the Director of the National School of Archival Studies in France, Michelle Bobiniec. The goal is to establish cooperative relations, coordination, and exchanges in the fields of training and research in archiving.
This cooperation falls under the UNESCO Chair on “Archives in the Service of Nations and African Societies,” which will enable both institutions to identify areas of common interest and launch joint projects in accordance with the applicable laws in France and Morocco.
In this context, Meftaker stated that the agreement, which is part of cultural cooperation between Morocco and France, aims to enhance the shared documentary heritage between the two institutions in the fields of urban planning and architecture.
She highlighted in a statement to the Moroccan News Agency that the agreement covers various cooperation areas, including training in archival practices, while promoting the exchange of expertise and experiences in this field.
The Director of the National School of Archival Studies in France noted that this agreement pertains to cooperative projects related to urban planning, architecture, and territorial matters, which form one of the focal points of the aforementioned chair that has been hosted by her institution since 2022.
The French official indicated that “Morocco is an exemplary country in the fields of architectural archives, environment, heritage, and territory,” expressing the institutions’ hope to develop promising projects that would inject vitality into their partnership.
This agreement pertains to conducting a series of international research aimed at enhancing knowledge of archives and promoting them to a broader audience, in addition to preparing a map of the archival assets preserved in both countries related to the history of urban planning and architecture.
The agreement aims to improve the practices and mechanisms necessary for preserving archives, ensuring access to them, and boosting their recognition among public and private African institutions, with the objective of enhancing knowledge of this heritage and raising awareness about it.
It is worth mentioning that the National School of Archival Studies in France, established in 1821, is a higher education institution affiliated with Paris Sciences et Lettres University (PSL), which works to keep pace with the development of modern historical curricula and update archival professions, including the integration of digital humanities in these fields.
