Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), and Ms. Audrey Azoulay, Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), signed a cooperation agreement between the two organizations on capacity-building, development, and technical assistance.

The agreement, which ushers cooperation between ISESCO and UNESCO into a new phase of joint action, includes five programmes on capacity-building, development, technical assistance, particularly in the fields of girls and women education, Artificial Intelligence, the social transformations management programmes (MOST), natural and water resources, conservation of cultural heritage in the Islamic world and Africa, as the latter, particularly poor African countries, constitutes a priority for UNESCO and includes many of ISESCO Member States.

The agreement provides for the sharing of information in the fields of common interest, holding periodical meetings between the representatives of the two organizations both in Paris and Rabat, and the exchange of mutual invitations to participate in their respective gatherings and conferences such as Dubai Expo 2020 and the World Water Forum ‘Dakar 2021’, to provide opportunities for strengthening mutual partnership.

Prior to the signing ceremony, Dr. AlMalik and Ms. Azoulay held a meeting during which they explored ways to promote cooperation and potential partnership between the two organizations in many programmes and activities within the framework of their action, namely conducting joint foresight studies, joining UNESCO Programme on adopting international conventions in the fields of education, particularly the Convention on the Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications, and facilitating higher education students mobility.

In this regard, Dr. AlMalik stressed that ISESCO’s new vision adopts the principle of openness to and cooperation with international organizations and non-Member States to work jointly and entrench the foundations of complementarity based on respect and accomplishment of commitments in such a way as to serve all world peoples.

On the occasion of the official reopening of its Office at UNESCO headquarters, ISESCO made a big reception during which Dr. AlMalik gave an address welcoming over 250 participants of the delegations of the participating countries in UNESCO General Conference. He also touched upon ISESCO’s new vision, ISESCO and UNESCO cooperation programmes, new cooperation avenues with other organizations, and praised the good organization and success of UNESCO General Conference.

The reception was attended by ISESCO high-level delegation accompanying ISESCO Director General at the 40^th UNESCO General Conference.