As part of the activation of the initiative of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) to restore the house of the polymath Abd ar-Raḥmān ibn Khaldūn in downtown Tunis, announced by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ISESCO Director General, at the closing ceremony of the Celebration of Tunis as the Capital of Islamic Culture for 2019, ISESCO signed a partnership agreement with the Tunisian Ministry of Cultural Affairs to initiate the restoration and conservation works of this architectural monument.

The Agreement, signed in Tunis, provides for the commitment of ISESCO to finance the works of restoration and conservation of the house of Ibn Khaldūn, according to the technical report prepared by the Tunisian National Heritage Institute, whereas The Ministry undertakes to use the funds provided by ISESCO in the works of restoration and conservation of the house of Ibn Khaldūn. The necessary funding shall be settled in three (3) installments, the first of which stands at 30% of the gross amount to be transferred as from the date of the signing of the Agreement.

The Agreement also provides for the establishment of a joint committee to follow-up to the project, composed of two representatives of ISESCO, one representative of the Tunisian Ministry of Cultural Affairs, and one representative of the Agency for Heritage Development and Cultural Promotion (AMVPPC). The period of implementation of the Agreement shall be two years as from the date of the signing thereof.

The signing was attended by Dr. Mohamed Zine El Abidine, Tunisian Minister of Cultural Affairs, and a number of officials of the Ministry, as well as Mr. Mohamed Ghemari, Director of the Secretariat of the General Conference, Executive Council and Specialized Ministerial Conferences, and Dr. Kais Hammami, Director of the Centre of Strategic Anticipation.

The Agreement was signed for ISESCO by Dr. Mohamed Hedi Shili, Legal Advisor to the Director General, and for the Ministry by Mr. Faouzi Mahfoudh, Director General of the National Heritage Institute.

It is worth mentioning that ISESCO’s initiative to restore the house of Ibn Khaldūn, announced by Dr. AlMalik in Tunis, was greatly commended in Member States. This initiative reaffirms ISESCO’s new vision which keeps up with the digital cultural transformations and calls for investment in the cultural diplomacy, promotion of the cultural capital, and exportation of the Islamic enlightening culture to the world.