The Sector of Science and Technology at the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is holding the “Workshop on Training Women on Income-Generating Activities: Processing Agricultural Products and Forest Fruits,” on November 22-25, 2022, as part of the celebration of Yaoundé as the 2022 Culture Capital in the Islamic World for the African Region. The Workshop is held in partnership with the Cameroonian National Commission for Education, Science and Culture for UNESCO and ICESCO and the Ministry of Arts and Culture in Cameroon, aimed at building women’s capacities, consolidating their contributions to the local economy and raising awareness of the best practices for protecting the environment and preserving natural resources.

During the opening session of the four-day Workshop, Dr. Ismaila Diallo, Expert at the Sector of Science and Technology, highlighted ICESCO’s efforts in building women’s capacities, ensuring their integration in entrepreneurial fields, and helping them adapt to the challenges of climate change through the implementation of several programs and training sessions, in cooperation with Member States’ National Commissions.

For his part, Mr. Abdul-Aziz Yaouba‎, Secretary-General of the Cameroonian National Commission for UNESCO and ICESCO, underlined his country’s keenness to promote constructive cooperation with ICESCO in terms of the implementation of several programs and projects to contribute to the socio-economic development of women and the youth.

Ms. Astadjam Saoudi, Director of Entertainment and Creative Industries at the Ministry of Arts and Culture in Cameroon, President of the National Committee for the Celebration of Yaoundé as Culture Capital in the Islamic World, hailed the role of the Program of the Culture Capitals in the Islamic World in promoting heritage, highlighting women’s contributions and anchoring the values of peace, coexistence and civilizational dialogue.

The Workshop focused on raising participants’ awareness of the best practices of storing, processing and packaging agricultural products, building their capacities in the fields of project and financial resources management, and helping them improve their marketing and e-commerce skills.