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Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), stressed that soil and forests are the pillars of life on Earth, given their key role in providing food, preserving ecosystems and supporting biodiversity. He added that sustainable management of lands and forests offer solid solutions to fighting desertification and the expansion of degraded land, underlining the importance of adopting a strategy to overcome these challenges, which is based on promoting efforts to reclaim degraded lands and protect forests.

Dr. AlMalik made this statement during a panel discussion on, “Strengthening Soil Health and Climate Resilience: Sustainable Forest and Land Management in Sub-Saharan Africa and West Asia”, held in cooperation among ICESCO, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the Islamic Organization for Food Security, as part of the proceedings of COP16, currently being held in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Dr. AlMalik commended the efforts exerted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to protect the environment, stating that the Kingdom offers an inspiring model in the Islamic world through its “Saudi Green Initiative”, which features the implementation of more than 80 activities and programs, including the plan to plant 10 billion trees and reclaim 40 million hectares of degraded land.

Moreover, the Director-General highlighted the Organization’s key environmental initiatives and programs aiming at providing the Member States with the necessary knowledge and expertise to transition to smart agricultural systems and adopt sustainable practices. He also highlighted ICESCO’s ambitious program to produce 500,000 seedlings in the countries of the Islamic world and its Initiative, “Water Sustainability Collaboration Data Solutions Hub”, launched at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Dr. Raheel Qamar, Head of the Science and Technology Sector, and Dr. Hisham Al-Askari, Advisor to ICESCO Director General, also took part in the panel discussion.

ICESCO Pavilion hosted a number of panel discussions, including “A Multidimensional Understanding of Land, Water and Communities Fragility and Resilience Pathways in MENA”, “Bridging Capacity Gap in Nature-Based Solutions to Deliver Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN)”, and “Financing Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus (WEFE) to Fight Drought and Land Degradation. Sessions were also held to discuss “Role of Green Media in Fostering Efforts to protect the Earth and harmonize Biodiversity”, and “the Contributions and Role of Women in Desertification”.

Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Mr. Andrés Perelló Rodríguez, Director-General of Casa Mediterráneo (House of the Mediterranean). The meeting focused on exploring prospects for cooperation between ICESCO and Casa Mediterráneo, which aims to strengthen ties, foster dialogue, and enhance cooperation and mutual understanding between Spain and Mediterranean countries in cultural, economic, and political fields.

During the meeting, held on Tuesday 3 December 2024, at ICESCO’s headquarters, in Rabat, Dr. Benarafa outlined the key aspects of ICESCO’s vision and strategic orientations, highlighting its initiatives in its areas of competence, the transformations the Organization has undergone in its new phase, and the achievements it has accomplished.

The discussion included a proposal to establish cooperation between ICESCO and Casa Mediterráneo to organize a forum in 2025 focusing on prominent Andalusian figures and cultural diplomacy, coinciding with the 1200th anniversary of the city of Murcia.

The meeting was attended by Ambassador Khaled Fatahalrahman, Head of ICESCO Center for Civilizational Dialogue.

Following the meeting, ICESCO Deputy Director-General accompanied Mr. Perelló Rodríguez and his delegation on a tour to the different pavilions and sections of the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization, currently housed at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, as part of the strategic partnership between the Organization, the Islamic World League, and the Mohammedia League of Scholars.

With a special pavilion at the Blue Zone, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is taking part in the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Conference to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), hosted in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on 2-12 December 2024. The COP16 is the largest gathering of the Parties of the Convention and the first to be held in the Middle East, with the aim of promoting cooperation among the Convention’s 196 signatories and discussing effective solutions to rehabilitating degraded land and reducing drought.

During the opening session, the members of the Convention elected Eng. Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli, Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, as this session’s Conference President. In his address, Eng. Al Fadhli stated that the Kingdom aspires to achieve ambitious outcomes to preserve lands and curb their degradation, adding that Saudi Arabia’s hosting of this session is in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO’s Director General, is heading the Organization’s delegation to the Conference. Dr. AlMalik will take part in high-level activities, including a number of ministerial sessions on combating land degradation, drought resilience and migration, which will see the participation of ministers, senior officials, heads of international organizations and institutions concerned with climate action, in addition to the participating countries’ heads of delegations.

ICESCO’s Pavilion in the Blue Zone will host a variety of activities and interactive sessions focusing on different themes, with the participation of leading environmental experts. The Pavilion will also see the launch of several of the Organization’s initiatives on environment, innovation and sustainable development in the Islamic world, as well as the preliminary launch of ICESCO’s Report on Best Practices in Disaster Risk Reduction and Early Warning Systems.

Following the remarkable success of its exceptional participation at COP29 in Azerbaijan, ICESCO’s participation in COP16 comes to reiterate the special attention its vision and strategic orientations pay to the field of environment in the Islamic world. Through its Science and Environment Sector, the Organization implements a number of pioneering initiatives and programs in the Member States to combat the negative effects of climate change and contribute to strengthening water and food security.

Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), stressed that peace education is the best way to find innovative and collaborative solutions to current global challenges such as conflicts, wars and the climate crisis. He added that the first step involves integrating peace education into education systems, noting that ICESCO has implemented many pioneering initiatives in this regard, convinced that peace education is an investment in a safer and more prosperous future for all humanity.

This statement was part of Dr. Al-Malik’s virtual address delivered on Wednesday 27 November 2024, at the opening of the two-day Global Summit for Peace Education, held by the Global Peace Education Network, in Paris, in cooperation with ICESCO as a strategic partner. The Summit brings together several senior officials and representatives of international institutions concerned with promoting global peace, including Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Dr. Al-Malik reviewed ICESCO’s main efforts in the field of peacebuilding, including the Leadership Training in Peace and Security Program (LTIPS), which has so far trained 180 young men and women from 68 countries to become ICESCO Young Peace Ambassadors, building their capacity and leadership skills to participate effectively in peacebuilding efforts in their communities, in line with the Organization’s “360° Peace Approach”.

He explained that technologies will play a key role in shaping the future, placing everyone under a moral obligation to ensure the responsible use of new technologies, particularly AI, underlining the important role of peace education through the ethical use of technologies in education systems. “In this respect, ICESCO launched the Riyadh Charter on AI Ethics for the Islamic world and held rich discussion sessions on peace and climate change during its participation in COP29,” he added.

ICESCO Director General concluded his address by affirming that the Organization seeks to promote the values of coexistence, understanding and mutual respect among all, through its Center for Civilizational Dialogue, and stressed ICESCO’s willingness to host the next edition of the Global Summit for Peace Education at its headquarters in Rabat, Morocco.

As part of its Future Dialogues series, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) hosted the fourth session of the series at its headquarters in Rabat on Monday 25 November 2024. The session featured a lecture titled, “The Power of Foresight in Post-Normal Times,” by renowned thinker Dr. Ziauddin Sardar, a specialist in futures studies, cultural criticism, and Islamic thought. The event also included a training workshop, Future Literacy Lab, aimed at university students, researchers, and those interested in futures studies.

Dr. Abdellilah Benarafa, ICESCO’s Deputy Director-General, opened the session with a welcoming remark, emphasizing the Series’ role in convening distinguished intellectuals and cultural figures to explore critical future-oriented topics in a cross-cultural context. Dr. Benarafa highlighted ICESCO’s efforts to promote foresight culture in the Islamic world and praised the relevance of the lecture’s theme and its insights into the future.

In his lecture, Dr. Sardar examined the defining features of the current era, which he described as “post-normal times,” characterized by profound transformations, including the collapse of traditional paradigms and the emergence of new models.

Following, Dr. Kais Al-Hamami, Head of ICESCO’s Center for Strategic Foresight and Artificial Intelligence, posed several questions to Dr. Sardar regarding global changes and the importance of adopting foresight strategies. Dr. Sardar emphasized that forces of complexity, chaos, and contradiction drive the societal shifts defining “post-normal times,” fostering a climate of uncertainty. He cited examples such as accelerated climate change and groundbreaking technological advancements enabling humans to develop capabilities surpassing their own intelligence.

Dr. Sardar underscored the necessity of crafting long-term visions and prioritizing educational reform, advocating for the integration of foresight culture into educational systems across the Islamic world. He also called for a balanced approach that equally values technological progress and ethical considerations.

Additionally, Dr. Sardar addressed the Islamic perspective on the future, stressing the importance of foresight and learning from history. According to Dr. Sardar, many aspects of “post-normal times” are unprecedented in human history, requiring innovative responses. The event concluded with an engaging discussion, during which Dr. Sardar responded to audience questions and comments.

Subsequently, the Future Literacy Lab workshop, led by specialized experts in foresight, provided participants with practical skills in critical and creative thinking, equipping the next generation with tools to actively engage in shaping the future.

The Financial Control Committee (FCC) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) concluded its annual meeting, on Friday, November 22, 2024, at the Organization’s headquarters, by adopting the financial reports submitted by the General Directorate and the Closing Accounts for the Financial Year 2023. In its final report, the Committee commended the professionalism and transparency of these reports.

The FCC meeting kicked off on Wednesday, November 20, 2024. Prior to that, the Committee members met with Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, ICESCO Deputy Director-General, who welcomed them, highlighting this meeting’s significance in light of the General Directorate’s adoption of transparency and integrity in dealing with the Member States, particularly with regard to the financial aspects, stressing the FCC’s role in developing financial governance at the Organization.

The FCC is chaired by Mr. Yussuf Ali Najar, representative of the State of Kuwait, and consists of Mr. Abdulaziz Saad Aldabas, representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as Rapporteur, and members Mr. Heizrul Bin Ali, representative of Malaysia, Mr. Araz Baghirli, representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Mr. Hadji Habib Kébé, representative of the Republic of Senegal.

Over the course of three days, the Committee met with officials from ICESCO’s General Secretariat for National Commissions and Conferences, Department of Legal Affairs and International Standards, Department of Administrative Operations, Department of Financial Operations, and the Office of the Financial Controller. The Meetings discussed reports and reviewed all documents pertaining to ICESCO’s finances and various forms of expenditure.

At the close of the meeting, the FCC members commended ICESCO’s financial system, praising its transparency, integrity and professionalism with regard to managing the Organization’s resources. They also commended ICESCO’s success in securing extra-budgetary funds to finance its programs and projects.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) hosted the launch ceremony of the Arabic version of the book “Shusha: Sacred City”, in the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku, today, Wednesday (November 20, 2024). The translation was published by IRS Heritage Journal with the support of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and the “Al Basha Holding Company, as part of the activities of Shusha capital of culture in the Islamic world celebrated this year within the framework of ICESCO program for capitals of culture in the Islamic world.

In his speech during the ceremony, Dr. Salim AlMalik, ICESCO Director General, stated that the book tells the history of the ancient city of Shusha since its founding by Panah Ali Khan. It is designed to value the historical heritage of the city and provide an opportunity for readers in the Arab world to learn about history, traditions, culture and the art of the city.

He expressed ICESCO’s pride in the patronage of His Excellency President Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, for the activities and programs of the Organization at the national level, especially the celebration of Shusha capital of culture, praising the efforts and successes achieved by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, presided by Azerbaijani First Lady, First Vice-President, ICESCO’s Goodwill Ambassador, Ms. Mehriban Aliyeva, in restoring and modernizing the city.

For his part, Mr. Adil Gabil Oglu Karimli, Minister of Culture and Chairman of the Azerbaijan National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, highlighted the cultural and artistic wealth that has characterized the city over centuries, pointing out that the Ministry is working to implement several programs to preserve the spirit of the city.

Mr. Aydin Karimov, the Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in the Shusha district, confirmed that the city continues to develop through a combination of heritage and modernity, to become a place where the visitor can notice the efforts made to preserve the city’s rich heritage along with its transformation into a vibrant cultural capital.

In his turn, Mr. Soltan Mammadov, Head of the Department of International Relations at the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, said that the book highlights the cultural values of the Azerbaijani people and that it is an example of the fruitful cooperation between the institutions concerned with heritage.

The ceremony concluded with an intervention by Mr. Musa Marjanli, editor-in-chief of the “IRS Heritage Journal”, in which he confirmed that Shusha mirrors the Islamic identity of Azerbaijan, which is clearly seen in the historical monuments that are scattered in the ancient city.