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The headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) hosted an award ceremony for the winners of the first edition of ICESCO’s competition to develop a process to transform bio-waste into food bars to ensure zero hunger. This initiative aligns with the second goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Organization’s Member States. The Event featured the participation of the five teams qualified for the final round of the competition, who presented their projects to a jury of experts, in a bid to secure their position as one of the top three winning teams.

The Ceremony, attended by a number of Member States’ ambassadors, officials, researchers, and students from international universities, was held today, Thursday, February 1st, 2024. It kicked off with the recitation of some verses from the Holy Quran, followed by a speech by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, in which he commended the awarded projects in a world beset by the two-fold challenge of ensuring food security and managing organic waste.

Moreover, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik praised the qualified teams’ work, emphasizing their innovation and renewal in addressing one of the most pressing issues of our time, i.e., food insecurity. Dr. AlMalik also acknowledged the teams’ wise contributions to achieving the second SDG, which aims to achieve zero hunger, not merely through ending hunger itself, but also by confronting the environmental challenges posed by waste proliferation.

The Director-General highlighted that the winning teams’ work embodies the focus of ICESCO’s vision and its belief in the power of education, science, and culture to bring about positive change and sustainability, considering the selected youth projects as a testament to the transformative power of modern science and technology when aligned with the human vision to combat food waste.

In his speech, Dr. Raheel Qamar, Head of ICESCO’s Science and Environment Sector, highlighted the importance of ensuring food security in light of the current challenges that the world is witnessing, which perpetuate the suffering or a significant portion of the world’s population from hunger and malnutrition-related issues, stressing the need to provide solutions likely to help in eradicating this scourge, which is the goal of ICESCO’s organization of this competition.

On his part, Dr. Ismaila Diallo, expert at ICESCO’s Science and Environment sector, gave a recap presentation of the award, highlighting its broad outlines and objectives. The presentation also included the various stages of submitting nominations, the participating countries, the number of nominations received by ICESCO, project eligibility criteria, ending it with details surrounding the selection of the five qualified teams.

The jury deliberations resulted in the project “Organic and Secondary Food Waste as a Mechanism for Ensuring Food Security” from Egypt winning the first place, thus receiving $22,500 in prize money. The second place was secured by the project “Borneo” project for food bar production from Malaysia, earning its team $12,500 in prize money, while the third place went to the project bio-waste sourced food bar production from Brunei Darussalam, with the team receiving $5,000 in prize money.

The jury then decided to award the Pakistani fourth-place team $2,500 in winnings, for their project on producing food bars from chickpeas. At the same 4th place, the team from Malaysia was equally awarded $2,500 for their project “Beco Food Bars’ Healthy Snacks.”

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Amb. Nazim Samadov, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Kingdom of Morocco. The meeting focused on the ongoing preparations to celebrate the city of Shusha as the Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2024, as well as arrangements for ICESCO’s participation in the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 29), hosted by the Republic of Azerbaijan later this year.

During the meeting, held Tuesday 30 January 2024 at the ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik praised the distinguished partnership between Azerbaijan and the Organization in areas of mutual interest, evidenced by the close collaboration on various programs and activities, particularly concerning youth capacity-building and training, development of scientific research, in addition to the promotion of space sciences and their applications.

On his part, Ambassador Samadov affirmed Azerbaijan’s full support for ICESCO’s efforts to contribute to the development of its work in the Member States, commending the Organization for implementing programs and projects in the fields of education, science, and culture in the Islamic world.

The Meeting also addressed the ongoing preparations for launching the celebration of Shusha as Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2024, expected to take place in May, under the patronage of His Excellency President Ilham Aliyev of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Likewise, the two parties discussed the arrangements for ICESCO’s participation in COP 29, to be hosted by Azerbaijan in November 2024 in Baku. The Organization has set up a committee to oversee the final preparations for its delegation’s participation in this major event.

ICESCO is also set to take part in the upcoming edition of the World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue in Baku.

Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of ICESCO’s Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, attended the meeting.

The Celebration of Marrakech, Capital of Culture in the Islamic World for 2024, officially kicked off, under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him, in a major ceremony organized by the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication in cooperation with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO).

The ceremony saw the presence of Mr. Enaam Mayara, President of the House of Councillors, Dr. Sami bin Abdullah Al-Saleh, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Kingdom of Morocco, on behalf of the Saudi Minister of Culture, Mr. Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication of Morocco, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, Mr. Farid Chourak, Wali of Marrakech-Safi region, Mr. Mohamed Idrissi, First Deputy Mayor of Marrakech and a host of senior Moroccan officials, accredited ambassadors to Morocco, public figures, writers, intellectuals, artists as well as a broad audience in Meydene theatre.

The ceremony began with performing the national anthem of the Kingdom of Morocco, followed by a video presentation highlighting the characteristics and features of the historic and ancient city of Marrakech.

In his address, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik stated that Marrakech is genuinely worthy of bearing the Capital of Culture of the Islamic World for 2024 in view of its abundant natural and historical richness and geographical uniqueness, describing it as a city of life, spirit and harmony. Dr. AlMalik added that the Almoravids laid the building blocks of Marrakech only for the Almohads to elevate its purity and beauty, for the Saadians to overflow its streets with art and welfare and for the Alaouites to transcend it to the pinnacle of glory and prosperity.

Furthermore, Dr. AlMalik stated that “the Seven Patrons” of Marrakech bestowed upon it the traits of piety, humility, generosity, dedication, and signs of good and that it is in honor of one of them that Cadi Ayyad University was named. The latter jointly coined with ICESCO the groundbreaking concept of “Civilisational Diplomacy” to initiate the world to the paths of wisdom, innovation and excellence. Dr. AlMalik added that the uniqueness of Marrakech lies in the calls of roadside sellers, the wit of the water sellers, the captivating narratives of storytellers in Halqa, the lively vibes of folk music, Dakka Marrakchia, and the unparalleled charm of Jemaa el Fna Square.

Following, Dr. Salim AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, and Mr. Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Moroccan Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, handed over the flag of Marrakech, Capital of Culture in Islamic World for 2024, to Mr. Mohamed Idrissi, First Deputy Mayor of Marrakech.

The celebration of Marrakech, Capital of Culture in the Islamic World for 2024, featured the official song of the ceremony, which will be played at related events during 2024, performed by the Moroccan group “Fnaïre”. The ceremony also showcased many artistic and lyrical performances that entertained the audience and transcended them to the realms of art that abound in the red city.

Toward the end of the ceremony, Dr. AlMalik recited a poem entitled “The Glorious Marrakech,” which he crafted and tributed to the city.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Mr. Mohamed Mehdi Bensaïd, the Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication of the Kingdom of Morocco, announced details of the program celebrating the city of Marrakech as the Capital of Culture in the Islamic world for 2024. The program includes the implementation of activities throughout the entire year, as part of ICESCO’s Capitals of Culture program.

This announcement was made during a press conference that they held at the Bahia Palace in Marrakech Friday 26 January 2024, in the presence of several Moroccan officials, including Mr. Farid Chouraj, Wali of the Marrakech-Safi Region. Mr. Bensaïd expressed his gratitude to ICESCO for choosing Marrakech as the Capital of Culture in the Islamic world for this year, emphasizing the involvement of all competent authorities in cultural and heritage activities during the celebrations that consolidate the cultural role of the “Red City” on the international level.

Moreover, the Minister acknowledged the success of the partnership between ICESCO and the Ministry during the celebration of Rabat as the Capital of Culture in the Islamic world, expressing confidence in the repetition of this successful partnership.

On his part, Dr. AlMalik, in his speech, reaffirmed the place that Marrakech rightfully occupies as the Capital of Culture in the Islamic world, considering its ancient history, rich cultural heritage, as well as its renown for skilled craftsmen and proficient authors. ICESCO Director-General furthermore expressed his belief that Marrakech will fully embody the essence of a Capital of Culture.

The Director-General elucidated that the Capitals of Culture in the Islamic world program aims to bolster the role of culture in sustainable development, thus cementing the importance of respecting cultural rights and diverse cultures.

Additionally, he highlighted the development of the program over the past four years, transforming these Capitals into prime cultural destinations and valorizing their cultural wealth. Dr. AlMalik also noted that the selection criteria for these capitals include their historical significance and contributions to culture, heritage, and literature.

During the Conference, Dr. AlMalik delivered certificates of inscription of a number of tangible and intangible heritage elements in Marrakech on ICESCO’s Islamic world Heritage Lists, to Mr. Mohamed El Idrissi, First Deputy Mayor of Marrakech.

The Conference also featured a presentation by Mr. Hicham Abkari, Director of Arts at the Moroccan Ministry of Culture, showcasing an outline of the celebratory program and its various activities and initiatives to be implemented throughout the year. Additionally, Mr. Mohamed El Idrissi, First Deputy Mayor of Marrakech, announced the collaboration between the municipal council and civil society to implement various cultural programs and initiatives during the celebration.

Subsequently, a heritage presentation titled “Nostalgia… Emotion of Yesterday” was delivered, aiming to introduce the history of the Bahia Palace in Marrakech through artistic and theatrical performances that highlight the civilizations that have successively enriched the palace throughout past centuries.