Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received yesterday Ms. Sylvia Lopez-Ekra, UN Resident Coordinator in Morocco. The two parties explored the cooperation prospects between ICESCO and the United Nations (UN) in the areas of common interest.

At the ICESCO’s headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik reviewed the main features of the Organization’s vision and strategy. ICESCO adopts an open-door policy towards promoting cooperation and partnerships with international organizations to benefit the Member States.  The Organization further supports achieving sustainable development goals and strengthening the spirit of peaceful coexistence based on civilizational and cultural dialogue and diversity.

The ICESCO DG highlighted the main programs, initiatives, and activities that the Organization launched and implemented to help its Member States cope with the negative repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“ICESCO held several important international videoconferences and virtual forums with high-level participation. ICESCO also established multiple specialized centers in the fields of strategic foresight, Artificial Intelligence, Arabic language for non-Arabic speakers, and heritage to anticipate the future changes ahead based on scientific foundations and in-depth studies,” he added.

The meeting touched upon the areas of cooperation between ICESCO and the UN, represented by its Office in Morocco. The areas included the quality of education, support for innovation, youth empowerment, and women’s integration in the economy. The focus was particularly on the new economies such as the digital and knowledge-based economy, as well as the development of an innovative working model to be adopted by the end of 2021 before the start of the next strategic cycle.

Dr. AlMalik stressed that these areas fully reflect multiple axes of ICESCO’s Action Plan, which promotes future young leaders training by hosting an elite group of young academics at its headquarters to strengthen their capacities and gain diverse experiences. ICESCO also prepares a wide range of programs and activities during 2021, proclaimed as the Year of Women, in appreciation of female efforts during this pandemic and promotion of women’s status.

The UN Resident Coordinator in Morocco commended ICESCO’s outstanding work in the Organization’s fields of competence. She also underscored her keenness to develop cooperation between the two parties.