A/HRC/32/43/Add.1 64. The cooperation of Morocco with African countries, especially in West Africa, has focused on capacity-building and training, with a view to improving human capital. In this regard, the country has provided access to higher education to 15,000 sub-Saharan African students and trained 1,000 imams. The Department of Vocational Training provides capacity-building support to 15 African countries. Four countries are receiving support in establishing a vocational training system, including building centres and providing training of trainers. In 2015, 800 students from sub-Saharan Africa received vocational training, either with the support of the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation or the Mohamed VI Foundation. Other initiatives have been implemented by all sectors that have developed capacity-building activities with African States. 65. For example, the Ministry of Agriculture provided information on its extensive engagement in South-South cooperation through both multilateral and bilateral agreements. Morocco has signed several multilateral agreements through its extensive cooperation with FAO. Under this framework, Morocco has engaged in capacity-building activities in Burkina Faso, Djibouti and the Niger, where 82 Moroccan experts have undertaken long-term direct activities. The Ministry also worked towards the development of interinstitutional and inter-professional relationships through agreements signed with other ministries of agriculture. The Ministry further indicated that, within the framework of its actions in partner countries, assessment missions were always conducted in order to determine the specific needs of the country before defining a tailored programme of action. It was further confirmed that, during the assessment phase, all stakeholders, including the primary beneficiaries, were consulted. 66. The Ministry of Health also has a dedicated unit on international cooperation. The chief of cooperation within that Ministry briefed the Independent Expert on the various activities conducted within the framework of South-South cooperation. Morocco has signed several bilateral conventions in the field of health, the latest of which led to the establishment of eight cooperation protocols, relating to pharmaceutical products, including quality control, training of senior health practitioners and the fight against fraudulent medicines. The Ministry is also engaged in capacity-building by sharing the practices of Morocco concerning universal health coverage and its experiences with the national health-care coverage system for the poorest segment of the population. Mention was also made of tripartite cooperation between Japan, Morocco and French-speaking African countries for capacity-building on child and maternal health. 67. Despite the mandate of the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation, SouthSouth cooperation seems to be very much fragmented, with little coordination among the different sectors engaged in capacity-building and other activities, which makes it difficult to evaluate whether the country has set any specific goals and whether those goals are being met. The South-South cooperation policy should be formalized, duly developed to integrate a human-rights-based approach and coordinated by a single entity. The Independent Expert notes with appreciation that a mapping exercise was launched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to identify ongoing cooperation initiatives, including those conducted with third parties. V. Visit to Ad Dakhla, Western Sahara 68. On 20 January 2016, the Independent Expert visited the city of Ad Dakhla in Western Sahara, where she met with local representatives of the various institutions implementing development programmes and the National Human Rights Council. Due to time constraints, the Independent Expert did not have a chance to meet with members of local civil society. Therefore, further assessment may be needed in this regard. The Independent Expert visited local projects of the National Initiative for Human 18