The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) signed a memorandum of understanding providing for cooperation to promote technological applications and cultural and heritage aspects in the fields of agriculture, forestry and fishery in the two organizations’ respective Member States.
The MoU signing took place during a meeting held at ICESCO headquarters on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, attended by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General. The MoU was signed by Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, and Dr. AbdulKarim Elwaer, FOA Assistant Director-General, Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa, in the presence of several heads of sectors and departments, ICESCO experts, and a FAO delegation.
Prior to the MoU signing, Dr. AlMalik received Dr. Elwaer and his accompanying delegation, and reaffirmed ICESCO’s keenness to expand the scope of its cooperation with FOA. He stated that the programs and projects which will be implemented as part of this MoU, guided by innovative visions, will provide a strong impetus to the two organizations’ efforts to foster food security, develop agriculture, protect the environment, and ensure good management of natural resources and livestock.
For his part, Dr. Elwaer commended ICESCO’s efforts to support its Member States within its areas of competence, expressing his delight at signing this MoU. He noted that ICESCO and FOA share a number of areas of interest, which will enable the two organizations to contribute to building the capacities of youth and women, exchange information, share expertise and good practices in the fields of science, technology and environment protection.
The MoU provides for cooperation in exchanging knowledge, information and innovation in the fields of food security, natural resources management and transition to sustainable food systems. It also provides for promoting the use of modern technology in agriculture, providing agricultural entrepreneurship training for young people and women, and mobilizing resources to preserve and promote agricultural heritage around the world.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Mr. Mohamed Mehdi Bensaïd, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication of the Kingdom of Morocco, and discussed ways to enhance cooperation between ICESCO and the Ministry in the cultural fields, and the ongoing preparations to announce the programme of the celebration of Marrakesh, Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2024, within the framework of ICESCO Programme for Culture Capitals in the Islamic World.
During the meeting, held on Wednesday (15November2023), in Casablanca, on the sideline of their attendance at the opening of the first session of the International Book Fair for Children and Youth, Dr. AlMalik and Mr. Bensaïd stressed the importance of capitalizing on the celebration of Marrakesh, Culture Capital in the Islamic World, to highlight its rich artistic and cultural elements, and contribute to defining its historical status as a global cultural destination to promote the values of coexistence and dialogue.
The meeting touched on the latest developments in joint cooperation between ICESCO and the Ministry in the cultural fields, most notably the promotion, protection and preservation of heritage, and cooperation in organizing joint activities.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is participating with a pavilion in the first edition of the International Children’s and Youth Book Fair, organized by the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication in the Kingdom of Morocco, in Casablanca, under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him. The book fair was inaugurated today, Wednesday 15 November 2023, and is scheduled to run until the 22nd of the same month.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, received Mr. Mohamed Mehdi Bensaïd, Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication in the Kingdom of Morocco, along with several senior figures attending the fair’s inauguration, at the Organization’s pavilion. Furthermore, he provided them with an overview of the said pavilion, showcasing publications in both print and digital formats, and key activities planned throughout the book fair days. These activities are primarily designed for children and youth, aligning with the ICESCO Year of Youth Program.
Dr. AlMalik also participated in the opening of the “Marvel” creators’ pavilion at the fair, which hosts seven Marvel graphic artists with significant contributions to the world of comic books.
ICESCO’s pavilion will host a diverse cultural, artistic, and entertainment program, encompassing numerous activities, discussion sessions, and dialogues tailored for children and youth, which will feature a distinguished gathering of thinkers, intellectuals, writers, and poets. Of particular note is an open dialogue session with Dr. AlMalik on Saturday 18 November 2023 to discuss crucial issues affecting the youth of the Islamic world, and present the Organization’s programs and projects to nurture their skills for future professions. Furthermore, the dialogue aims to promote a culture of strategic foresight and provide a platform for their opinions and suggestions on this matter.
Moreover, heads of sectors, directors of departments and centers, and experts from ICESCO will participate in the pavilion’s daily activities. Their involvement will entail an overview of the Organization’s efforts in the fields of education, science, and culture, especially those focused on children and youth. Additionally, seminars will be held on topics such as the Arabic language, heritage preservation and valorization, literary and artistic production for children and youth, and digital culture. The pavilion will also feature competitions and creative drawing workshops.
It is worth mentioning that this edition of the International Children’s and Youth Book Fair sees the participation of 255 exhibitors representing 33 countries, displaying thousands of books dedicated to children and youth across seven major exhibition halls, along with spaces for distinctive cultural and entertainment activities.
The third session of the International Conference on Combating Violent Extremism kicked off, on Tuesday (November 14, 2023), at ICESCO’s headquarters, in Rabat. This event, being held by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the Moroccan Observatory on Extremism and Violence, and in cooperation with the Moroccan General Delegation for Prison Administration and Reintegration, the Mohammadia League of Scholars and the Policy Center for the New South, brings together high-level officials and representatives of international and regional organizations, in addition to an elite group of experts and researchers in the field of countering extremism.
The two-day conference, being held under the theme “Scientific Knowledge in Countering Violent Extremism,” began with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by an introduction delivered by Ambassador Khaled Fatahalrahman, Director of ICESCO Center for Civilizational Dialogue.
During the opening session, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of ICESCO, gave an address, wherein he stressed that violent extremism did not appear out of thin air, but rather has many roots, adding that confronting this phenomenon begins by eradicating these roots, and indicating that extremism is not exclusive to a specific faith, region or nationality.
Moreover, the Director-General of ICESCO warned of the growing use of communication technology by violent extremist groups, especially artificial intelligence applications, explaining that children are affected by the consequences of the violent behavior nurtured through video games, which facilitate their recruitment by extremists in the future. He concluded his address by condemning the Israeli aggression on the Palestinian territories, which disrespect all international laws and norms.
In his address, Mr. Abdellatif Ouahbi, Minister of Justice of the Kingdom of Morocco, stressed that scientific knowledge is capable of immunizing people against extremist ideas, indicating the Kingdom’s keenness to adopt a national approach to combat terrorism and confront the causes of extremist ideologies.
Mr. Weixiong Chen, Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Executive Committee at the Security Council, explained that terrorist and violent extremist groups seek to exploit environmental crises, poverty, weak governance and human rights violations to recruit more members.
For her part, Ms. Amina Bouayach, President of the National Council for Human Rights in Morocco, reaffirmed that the phenomenon of violent extremism represents a real threat to the democratic value systems and human rights. Dr. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Harfash, Vice-President of Naif University for Security Sciences for Foreign Relations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, praised the conference, which is consistent with the university’s efforts in the field of combating extremist ideology.
In his address, Mr. Hakim Bendaoud, representative of Morocco General Directorate of National Security, stressed that the security approach to confront terrorism cannot succeed alone, stressing that a comprehensive approach is needed to address and prevent all aspects and causes of extremism. Ambassador Mohamed Lolishki, senior researcher at the Policy Center for the New South, indicated that the spread of terrorism imposed the need to address this phenomenon in a comprehensive manner based on national strategies and international cooperation.
In his statement, Mr. Abdelouahed Jamali Idrissi, coordinator of the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Reintegration of Prisoners in Morocco, tackled the difficulties and challenges facing former prisoners in their reintegration into society. Mr. Carlos Alexandre Montrio Reyes, Head of the Office of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism and Training Program in Africa, stressed the importance of education as a tool for combating extremism.
In his address, Dr. Mustafa Al-Razrazi, head of the Moroccan Observatory on Extremism and Violence, highlighted the topics that the conference will discuss throughout its sessions with the aim of exchanging national and international expertise and experiences on confronting violent extremism.
After that, the first session of the conference began on the behavioral and psychological aspects related to recruitment and rejecting extremism. The second session discussed the role of knowledge in confronting extremism. The second day of the conference includes exchanging national and international experiences and expertise on extremism rejection programs and the danger of using technology and artificial intelligence in extremism, as well as experiences and good practices sharing on the return of foreign fighters and their families.
On Monday, 13 November 2023, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Mr. Jeyhun Bayramov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, accompanied by an Azerbaijani delegation including Dr. Murad Huseynov, Deputy Minister of Culture, and Ambassador Nazim Samedov, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Morocco.
At the outset of the meeting, attended by several heads of sectors and departments within the Organization, Dr. AlMalik welcomed Mr. Bayramov, stressing the distinguished partnership and cooperation between ICESCO and Azerbaijan, noting the crucial role of the latter as one of the Member States actively supporting ICESCO’s initiatives, programs, and activities. Dr. AlMalik expressed sincere thanks and appreciation to President Ilham Aliyev for his continuous support of ICESCO.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Minister commended ICESCO for supporting its Member States within its areas of expertise. He affirmed the deep appreciation of Azerbaijan’s political leadership for the Organization and its commitment to bolstering its programs and initiatives in the fields of education, science, and culture.
The meeting discussed the prominent initiatives and programs implemented by ICESCO, including the Young Professionals Program launched in 2022 with financial support from Azerbaijan. This program provides young talents in the Islamic world with the opportunity to undergo 24 months of professional training in ICESCO’s sectors, departments, and centers. Furthermore, the meeting also reviewed upcoming joint programs and projects, notably the celebration of Shusha as the Capital of Culture in the Islamic world 2024
Following the meeting, Dr. AlMalik and Mr. Bayramov met with the first group of participants in the said Program coming from 10 countries. The Minister congratulated them on their selection for this distinguished program, emphasizing its potential to develop their leadership and professional skills, which would contribute to the advancement of education, science, and culture in their countries.
Subsequently, the ICESCO Director-General, the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, and the accompanying delegation visited the Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization, currently hosted at ICESCO Headquarters. The exhibition utilizes modern presentation techniques to narrate and document in detail the life of our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and is part of the partnership between the organization, the Muslim World League, and the Mohammedan League of Scholars.
The Financial Control Committee of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) concluded its annual meeting, on Monday (November 13, 2023), held at the Organization’s headquarters, in Rabat, and issued its final report, which approved the financial reports submitted by the General Directorate of ICESCO and the closing accounts for the financial year 2022.
At the close of its meeting, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of ICESCO, met with the Committee members, namely Mr. Yussuf Ali Najar, representative of the State of Kuwait, as Chairman; and Mr. Abdulaziz bin Saad Addabas, representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as rapporteur; as well as Mr. Hazrul bin Ali, representative of Malaysia, Mr. Araz Baghirli, representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Mr. El Hadji Habib Kébé, representative of the Republic of Senegal, who participated via videoconference.
Dr. AlMalik commended the work and efforts of the Committee to develop financial governance of ICESCO by examining the financial reports submitted by the Organization and expressing its opinion thereon aimed at improving the Organization’s financial performance, stressing ICESCO’s keenness to establish a financial system marked by transparency and credibility towards its Member States. He also reviewed the development of the Organization’s action plans and budget by ensuring extra-budgetary resources for a set of programs and projects and urging several countries to pay their arrears to ICESCO’s budget.
For his part, Mr. Najar, Chairman of the Committee, commended ICESCO’s efforts and remarkable development, stressing the Committee’s keenness to cooperate closely and give recommendations, considering that the Committee’s work is likely to boost the Organization’s work. The Committee’s meeting kicked off on Saturday (November 11, 2023), where Dr. Abdelilah Benarfa, Deputy Director-General of ICESCO, highlighted the importance of the meeting of the Financial Control Committee as an opportunity to review the Organization’s achievements in following up on and implementing the recommendations of previous meetings of the Committee.
The Committee’s agenda featured a follow-up on the implementation of its recommendations for the past year, an examination of the financial report of the General Directorate of ICESCO and the closing accounts for the financial year 2022, as well as the review of the report on Member States’ contributions to ICESCO’s budget for 2022, and the audit company’s report for the financial year 2022.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, the Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Mr. Mathias Cormann, the Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The two officials discussed ways to strengthen partnership and enhance cooperation in areas of mutual interest, chief of which are education and its quality assessment, as well as the arrangements for jointly organizing the conference on the Program for International Student Assessment “PISA,” in the Republic of Azerbaijan.
During the meeting, held on Friday 10 November 2023, at the OECD Headquarters in Paris, in the presence of officials from the two organizations, Dr. AlMalik highlighted the strategic partnership and fruitful cooperation between ICESCO and OECD since the signing of the memorandum of understanding, in November 2020, aiming to develop the education sector and improve education systems in the Islamic world. He also praised the joint initiatives and activities, particularly the PISA conference, held at ICESCO Headquarters, in November 2022.
The meeting also discussed details for implementing future programs between the two organizations in the field of education. This includes the arrangements for holding the “PISA” conference at the beginning of 2024, in the Republic of Azerbaijan, to assess education systems in the Islamic world, promote knowledge exchange, improve education systems’ quality, and find solutions to common challenges. They also discussed efforts to keep up global requirements and develop education policies in Africa, bridging the glaring gap in educational systems between ICESCO Member States, and assisting them in developing their education systems by enhancing skills, building youth capacities, and developing their cognitive skills.
Mr. Mathias Cormann commended ICESCO’s efforts in its areas of competence and its outstanding collaboration with OECD, reviewing its implemented initiatives with a group of ICESCO Member States in the field of human resource development and strategic planning. In conclusion, Dr. AlMalik presented the OECD Secretary-General with the ICESCO shield and invited him to be the guest of honor at the next session of the Conference of Ministers of Education in the Islamic world.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, the Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), called on international organizations to anticipate the future to allow youth to project themselves into the future and enhance their self-confidence to ensure a decent life for all and world peace, stressing that achieving this lofty goal requires stronger equity.
This was part of an address he delivered on Saturday, 11 November 2023, during the 42nd session of the UNESCO General Conference, at the Organization’s headquarters in Paris, in the presence of ministers and delegations of Member States and the representatives of international and regional organizations and civil society bodies.
Dr. AlMalik pointed out that the prevailing fear worldwide and the quest for a better future increased the need for international organizations to fulfill their role in promoting the quality of life and preserving peace and coexistence, noting that culture, science and education remain the best tools for achieving this goal. Hence, when ICESCO and UNESCO work jointly and collaboratively, they build avenues of peace through equity as a guiding principle in a constantly changing world.
ICESCO Director-General stressed that the behaviors afflicting humanity are incompatible with human civilization and the humanity of civilization, and raise questions about the role of international organizations, adding: “How can we, as the elite of the world in science, culture and education, look in the eyes of children, mothers and the elderly, who face the most powerful machines of bombing, destruction and terrorism?” What can we say to the remains of the victims in Gaza? In all our speeches, we often claim our attachment to peace. What civilization do we talk about? Our claims of peace and civilization denounce our silence over human beings’ injustices against other humans.
At the close of his address, Dr. Al-Malik emphasized that international organizations, in such circumstances, must stand up and assume responsibility for the future of humanity so that we can move forward with confidence bearing in mind that only human dignity can distinguish those who deserve life from those whom life does not.
The Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) Dr. Salim AlMalik held a series of meetings with a number of ministers and heads of delegation of several Member States of the Organization on the sidelines of their participation in the 42nd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Paris. During these meetings, Dr. AlMalik explored with his counterparts ways to promote cooperation between ICESCO and their respective countries in the fields of education, science and culture, and reviewed the outcomes of the programs and projects ICESCO implemented in cooperation with the competent authorities in each country.
Dr. Al-Malik’s meetings included a meeting with Dr. Madeeha bint Ahmed al Shibaniyah, Minister of Education and chairperson of the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, who praised the fruitful cooperation between Oman and ICESCO, and confirmed her country’s readiness to host the next session of the Conference of Education Ministers in the Islamic World. The meeting touched on ways to support the Palestinian people to confront the aggression they are facing.
During the meeting between ICESCO Director-General and Mr. Madad Ali Sindhi, Federal Minister of Education of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the two sides discussed strengthening cooperation and expanding the Organization’s program to improve water, sanitation and hygiene services in Pakistani schools, and jointly organizing science Olympiads for the benefit of youth in the Islamic world. At the end of this meeting, Mr. Sindhi invited Dr. AlMalik to attend the Prophet’s Biography Conference in Pakistan.
For her part, Ms. Mariatou Koné, Minister of National Education and Literacy of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, expressed, during her meeting with Dr. AlMalik, her thanks and appreciation for the Organization’s efforts and the programs it implements, especially in the field of education, and for the workshops held at the Regional Center for Peace Education in Yamoussoukro. At the end of the meeting, both sides agreed to form a joint committee to work on integrating more than 4000 Quranic schools into the Ivorian educational system.
After that, Dr. AlMalik met with Dr. Ahmed Fakak Al-Badrani, Minister of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities of the Republic of Iraq, and both reaffirmed their keenness to develop joint cooperation, especially in building youth capacities, and intensifying the participation of Iraqi youth in the activities, competitions and programs implemented by the Organization. Mr. Al-Badrani praised ICESCO’s efforts in the fields of education, science and culture.
During the meeting between Dr. Al-Malik and Dr. Mohamed Ali Boughdiri, Minister of Education of the Republic of Tunisia, the two sides stressed their keenness to enhance joint cooperation between ICESCO and the Tunisian ministry. In his turn, the Tunisian Minister praised ICESCO’s vision and strategic orientations, which attach education utmost importance, commending the training sessions held by the Organization for the benefit of Tunisian youth.
The meeting, which brought together ICESCO DG and Mr. Elnur Mammadov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, discussed ways to develop the outstanding partnership between ICESCO and Azerbaijan, through implementing a number of programs in partnership with Azerbaijani institutions to provide support for countries of the Islamic world. The two sides also reviewed preparations for launching the celebration of Shusha Culture Capital in the Islamic World for the year 2024.
In the last meeting, Dr. Al-Malik and Mr. Bakhromjon Aloev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, reviewed the latest developments in cooperation between ICESCO and Uzbekistan in the fields of education, science and culture, and the programs and initiatives that will be launched as part of celebrating Samarkand as Culture Capital in the Islamic World for the year 2025 were discussed.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held on 9 November 2023, at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, the 13th coordination meeting of its Member States, with a high-level attendance of ministers and delegations of ICESCO Member States participating in the 42nd session of UNESCO’s General Conference held in the Paris from 7 to 22 November 2023.
The meeting began with a speech by Dr. Salim Al-Malik, ICESCO Director-General in which he reviewed the approach adopted by ICESCO in its new vision, which is based openness, complementarity, anticipation and creativity, representing the ICESCO’s four pillars for living up to the trust of its Member States. Dr. AlMalik commended the role of youth and women who respectively account for 41% of ICESCO’s staff, and 50% of senior leadership positions, thus reflecting the fruits of ICESCO’s affirmative action.
He stressed the importance of the meeting, which bears additional expectations for the strong relationship between ICESCO and UNESCO, noting the key role played by the permanent delegates of the Member States who constitute the best communication channel to ensure the Organization’s success in its areas of the action: education, science and culture.
ICESCO Director-General also pointed out the need to pool efforts to alleviate the suffering of people in the context of conflicts raging in the region, such as the injustices perpetrated in Palestine, specifically in steadfast Gaza Strip.
For his part, Dr. Mohamed Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Chairman of the Egyptian National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, and President of ICESCO’s General Conference, stressed that ICESCO’s periodic meetings of its Member States constitute a perfect opportunity to reflect on ways to enhance its unique role in the United Nations system, in light of the challenges facing the world, praising the Organization’s efforts to support its Member States in its areas of competence.
Dr. Ashour reviewed Egypt’s efforts and initiatives under the leadership of His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi since its assuming the presidency of ICESCO’s General Conference in 2021, calling for joining efforts of all Arab countries and the Islamic world to support Dr. Khaled El-Anani, former Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, to win the position of UNESCO Director-General for the period 2025-2029.
In his statement, Tawfik Jelassi, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, praised the role played by ICESCO in consolidating the values of coexistence and peace, preserving heritage, and supporting its Member States. The meeting saw the signing of an agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for hosting the 44th session of ICESCO’s Executive Council in the city of Jeddah from 16 to 18 January 2024.
The meeting also featured several presentations. In the first one, ICESCO reviewed the main thrusts of its strategic vision, programs and projects that respond to the needs of its Member States. The second presentation, of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, reviewed the candidacy file of the capital Riyadh to host Expo 2030, and the Kingdom’s endeavor to present an exceptional edition in the history of this international event.
The third presentation, delivered by the representatives of the Republic of Azerbaijan, reviewed the “Baku Dialogue Forum”, an initiative launched by His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in 2008, with the aim of establishing an effective dialogue between different civilizations and cultures, and intensifying efforts to achieve peace between peoples. In their presentation, the representatives of the Republic of Uzbekistan reviewed their country’s desire to host the 43rd session of UNESCO’s General Conference in 2025 in Samarkand, in conjunction with the celebration of the city as Culture Capital in the Islamic World, as part of ICESCO’s Culture Capitals programme.
