A/HRC/32/43/Add.1 36. Morocco has also endorsed the Busan Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation, which specifically highlights a set of common key principles for making development cooperation effective. These include the ownership of development priorities by developing countries, recognition of the diversity and complementarity of development actors, transparency and shared responsibility, whereby development cooperation must be transparent and accountable to all citizens and promote performance-based programming. 37. In 2015, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Government of Morocco signed a memorandum of understanding for a two-year country programme which will support the reform agenda of Morocco. The country programme is a new OECD tool that enables some partner economies to leverage OECD expertise and best practices, strengthen institutions and build capacity for successful policy reforms. The agreement targets areas such as investment, trade, public governance, education and employment, and is built around three main policy areas: economic growth and competitiveness, social inclusion and public governance.11 38. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation indicated that Morocco was one of the most open countries in the region, one that prioritized its relationship with Africa, the European Union and the Arab world, and that sought to expand its ties with Asia and the Americas. The Independent Expert was also informed that civil society played a role in the incorporation of international agreements into domestic law and in implementing policies with a view to fulfilling the country’s international obligations, especially with regard to human development through the National Initiative for Human Development. The Independent Expert notes with appreciation the efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation to provide public information on its website on the framework of its cooperation with various stakeholders.12 39. The Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation, established in 1986, is mandated to implement the country’s foreign cooperation policy, in close cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and in partnership with the relevant ministerial departments and public institutions. Its main mission is to develop and expand foreign relations in the scientific, cultural, technical, economic and humanitarian fields with partner countries, especially within the framework of South-South cooperation. 13 The Independent Expert did not have the opportunity to directly engage with the Agency but noted the recurring concern that each institution had its own specific cooperation agenda, not necessarily coordinated with that of other institutions, meaning that some initiatives fell outside the framework of a harmonized development cooperation policy. B. Transparency and accountability in development 40. In its latest report to Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Morocco referred to a plan of action that had been shared with various donors. The plan was aimed at improving aid efficiency through an integrated multisectoral approach, along with the promotion of transparency and coordinated aid activities. 41. During her engagement with the Budget Directorate within the Ministry of Finance, the Independent Expert stressed that the duty of international cooperation required the State 11 12 13 12 See www.oecd.org/newsroom/oecd-strengthens-co-operation-with-moroccosigns-morocco-country-programmeagreement.htm (accessed on 6 March 2016). See https://www.diplomatie.ma/Politique%c3%a9trang%c3%a8re/ONU/Institutionsspecialisees fondsetautresorganis/tabid/195/language/en-US/Default.aspx. See https://www.diplomatie.ma/Politiqueétrangère/ONU/FinancementduDeveloppement/tabid/ 200/vw/1/ItemID/378/language/en-US/Default.aspx.