Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Mr. Anar Alakbarov, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, on Tuesday, 16 September 2025, in Shusha, to discuss ways of strengthening cooperation between the Organization and the Foundation in education and culture.

During the meeting, Dr. AlMalik presented the mid-term report of the “Educational and Social Support for Displaced and Boarding School Girls,” implemented in Burkina Faso in partnership with the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. The project has supported more than 26 schools, trained over 300 teachers, and assisted thousands of students. Both parties agreed to extend the project in its upcoming phases to cover several African countries, alongside the development of several joint projects and programs as part of this strategic partnership.

For his part, Mr. Alakbarov reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to continuing close cooperation with ICESCO in education, culture, and heritage.

It is worth noting that the Heydar Aliyev Foundation was awarded the 2025 Hamdan-ICESCO Prize for Voluntary Development of Educational Facilities in the Islamic World, in recognition of its pioneering initiatives.

The meeting was also attended by Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of ICESCO’s Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, and Dr. Abdulhakeem AlSenan, Director of ICESCO’s Regional Office in Baku.