Member States reaffirm commitment to paying their financial contributions at the earliest possible date in support of ICESCO’s financial sustainability

At the conclusion of its 4th extraordinary session, the General Conference of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) adopted several reports, resolutions and measures aimed at strengthening the Organization’s financial sustainability, ensuring its ability to meet its obligations and continue implementing its programs and activities efficiently, in response to the aspirations of its Member States, while safeguarding its financial independence.

The session, held in person at the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat and via videoconference on Thursday, 10 September 2026, brought together 40 Member States, represented at a high ministerial level, as well as ambassadors and secretaries-general of national commissions.

The resolutions adopted included the approval of the Directorate General’s report on urgent financial and administrative measures, as well as the endorsement of the temporary measures set out in the Emergency Plan for the Sustainability of the Organization, foremost among which is the settlement of Member States’ contributions and arrears. The General Conference also mandated the ICESCO Directorate General to implement the resolutions adopted at the extraordinary session and follow up on their implementation.

In this context, a number of Member States announced their commitment to paying their financial contributions and outstanding payments, in full or in part, at the earliest possible date. The General Conference also called on the remaining Member States to fulfill their obligations and settle their arrears, thereby supporting the Organization’s stability and ensuring the continuity of its development and knowledge programs.

The session opened with an address by Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Acting Minister of Culture, and Chair of the 15th session of the ICESCO General Conference. He stressed that the Organization had built up significant institutional and knowledge capital and had become an active partner in the fields of education, science, culture and innovation. He further underscored that institutions are measured by their ability to achieve sustainability, explaining that the financial challenge is not merely a matter of figures, but that its impact extends to ensuring that programs and initiatives reach students, researchers, innovators and institutions across Member States.

For his part, Mr. Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), affirmed that the Emergency Plan for the Sustainability of the Organization represents a political commitment and a decisive orientation on the part of Member States to safeguard the future of its civilizational mission. He explained that the continuation of the Organization’s projects in its fields of competence embodies a collective responsibility towards the peoples of the Islamic world.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of ICESCO, noted that the exceptional circumstances facing international institutions and organizations have had repercussions on the Organization’s work, making it imperative to expedite the implementation of the measures adopted to ensure the continuity of its performance. He reaffirmed ICESCO’s commitment to pursuing its mission without interruption by consolidating a quality-driven approach and expanding its network of partnerships.

Dr. AlMalik also noted that the Organization is working to diversify its funding sources, including through the Development Endowment (Waqf) Project, with a view to establishing a sustainable financial arm that supports its programs and initiatives and enhances its ability to respond to the needs of its Member States. He stressed that the regular payment of Member States’ contributions remains a key pillar of financial sustainability.

In his address, Mr. Mohamed Saad Berrada, Minister of National Education, Preschool and Sports of the Kingdom of Morocco, reiterated Morocco’s full support for ICESCO and its commitment to supporting the Organization in pursuing its mission and implementing its programs and projects.

The 4th Extraordinary Session of the ICESCO General Conference concluded with an address by Dr. Konsowa. He stressed that the Organization’s strength lies in the cohesion of its Member States around it and in their ability to translate shared responsibility into practical decisions that preserve its stability and advance its mission. He noted that the agreements reached would constitute an important step towards strengthening ICESCO’s sustainability and consolidating its capacity to continue its development, knowledge and civilizational role in serving the countries of the Islamic world.