The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) seizes the occasion of the World Science Day for Peace and Development, celebrated annually on November 10th, to call on the international community to exert more efforts to raise awareness of the role of scientific diplomacy in promoting knowledge and building peace across the globe, and work towards improving the quality of scientific research, given the significant role of sciences in advancing societies and achieving sustainable development.

Stemming from its firm belief in the importance of leveraging sciences to build peace, and as part of its vision and strategic orientations, ICESCO seeks to anchor the concept of scientific diplomacy through conducting the study, “Promoting Scientific Diplomacy: Roadmap to the Strategy of ICESCO Member States”. The study provides insights into mechanisms to develop scientific cooperation mechanisms and knowledge exchange in the Islamic world, with the aim of addressing the standing challenges the Member States face in a number of fields, particularly in climate change, healthcare and sustainable development.

Moreover, to contribute to fostering the role of scientific research and innovation in ensuring the societal prosperity and natural resources sustainability, ICESCO implements a number of programs and activities, including ICESCO’s Contest for Transforming Bio-Waste into Food Bars to achieve food security, and ICESCO’s Program to Produce 500,000 Seedlings in the Islamic World in order ensure the afforestation of areas affected by desertification, promote good governance in natural resources use, and reclaim degraded lands.

In a world marked by fast-paced technological advancements, ICESCO calls for establishing training practices that adhere to an up-to-date and skill-based scientific approach to anticipate the needs of professions of the future, and promote sciences as a tool for achieving development, building peace and attaining prosperity.