The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) signed on Monday, June 14, 2021, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for joint cooperation to promote the role of girls, women, and young people in the Islamic world to achieve sustainable development.

Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, ICESCO Deputy Director-General, and Mr. Louis Mora, UNFPA Resident Representative in Morocco, signed the MoU during an official ceremony, held at ICESCO headquarters, with the participation of several UNFPA Officials as well as the heads of sector and department, and consultants at ICESCO. Mr. Karim Hamidouche, head of the Legal Affairs and Partnership Pole at the General Secretariat of the Moroccan National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, also attended the ceremony.

In his address, Dr. Benarafa stressed the importance of cooperation between ICESCO and UNFPA for building the capacities of women and young people and strengthening their creativity in ICESCO Member States to overcome the challenges facing them and to ensure the right to education, science and technology.

On his part, Mr. Mora expressed his happiness for the signing of the agreement, which will strengthen the bilateral relationship between ICESCO and UNFPA and support their joint cooperation to ensure women’s rights and strengthen their role, especially in entrepreneurial activity. 

The memorandum covers the following:

• Promoting cooperation between ICESCO and UNFPA in advocating for comprehensive public policies for women, young people and girls;
• Empowering women, young people, and girls and enhancing their role as leading actors in sustainable development;
• Strengthening the leadership of women, young people, and girls through community support programs;
• Promoting access to information, services and opportunities for marginalized women, young people and girls through innovative digital solutions;
• Developing digital content suiting the needs of marginalized groups through building the capacities of content creators, teachers, civil society, the private sector as well as academics;
• Capitalizing on expertise and promoting cooperation between countries of the global south to exchange experiences and best practices on women, young  people and girls’ empowerment;
• Preparing reports and analytical studies on women, young people and girls’ empowerment and protecting their rights.