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    On International Literacy Day: ICESCO to Announce the Winning Institutions of its Prize for Girls and Women’s Literacy

    To celebrate International Literacy Day, held on 8 September of each year, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is delighted to announce the winning institutions of its 2023 prize for girls and women’s literacy, which was previously launched on 6 September 2022 for the benefit of civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The prize aims to encourage pioneering initiatives and best practices in literacy and non-formal education designed for girls and women.

    ICESCO set up a committee of experts to select among 439 files from 24 member states those that meet the requirements and criteria of the prize. The committee selected two winning institutions; Future Eve Association for Family Development and Environment from the Arab Republic of Egypt on its project named “Education as a Gateway to Empowerment: The Approach of Women and Life” and Obhizatrik Foundation from the People’s Republic of Bangladesh on its project “Empowering the Poorest Women.” The committee suspended the award for the French-speaking countries for failure to meet the eligibility criteria and requirements of the nominees.

    Each prize amounts to USD 3,000, in addition to ten tablets and appreciation certificates that ICESCO will award to the three winners during its next session of the executive council in Jeddah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

    The prize came as part of ICESCO’s vision, which accords special importance to education as a beacon of achieving sustainable development.

    On International Literacy Day, and in a world with more than 750 million people, both youth and elderly, unable to read and write and another 250 million children, and mostly women and girls, failing to acquire basic literacy skills, ICESCO would reiterate the significance of harnessing synergy to fight illiteracy and guarantee equitable, inclusive and quality education for all in addition to promoting lifelong learning opportunities.

    In the era of AI and modern technologies, ICESCO stresses the need for serious action aimed at bringing a fundamental change through the use of ICT by focusing on the most vulnerable population, especially girls and women, mobilizing necessary financial resources and leveraging investments allocated to this field, as well as providing more Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs).

    ICESCO Director-General receives Guatemalan Ambassador in Rabat

    On Wednesday, September 6, 2023, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Mr. Erick Estuardo Escobedo Ayala, Ambassador of Guatemala accredited to Morocco. The two officials discussed prospects for cooperation between ICESCO and Guatemala in areas of common interest.

    During the meeting, which took place at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik stressed that, as part of its vision and strategic orientations, the Organization has adopted an inclusive approach to disseminate the culture and civilization of the Islamic world and the human values it embodies, to promote peace and security in the world and combat extremism and hatred.

    He also pointed out that ICESCO allows non-member states to join the Organization as observers, to serve Muslim communities around the world and strengthen cooperation between these countries and the countries of the Islamic world.

    For his part, the Guatemalan Ambassador praised ICESCO’s role, indicating his willingness to establish fruitful cooperation with the Organization and the countries of the Islamic world.

    The meeting was attended by Mr. Anar Karimov, head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, and Mr. Mohamed Hedi Shili, Director of the Legal Affairs and International Standards Department.

    Agreement to strengthen cooperation between ICESCO and Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation in Morocco

    Dr. Salim Al-Malik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Dr. Abdellatif Miraoui, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation of the Kingdom of Morocco, held a meeting to discuss ways to enhance cooperation between ICESCO and the Ministry in the areas of scientific research development, academic exchange and qualifying youth in the field of artificial intelligence.

    Following the bilateral meeting between Dr. Al-Malik and Dr. Miraoui, on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, at ICESCO’s headquarters in Rabat, during which they reaffirmed their keenness to develop the distinguished relations between the two sides, an expanded meeting was held in the presence of Dr. Abdelilah Benarfa, ICESCO Deputy DG, and several heads of Sectors, directors of departments and centers of the Organization, and the delegation accompanying the Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation in Morocco.

    During the meeting, the two parties reviewed the results of the existing cooperation between ICESCO and the Ministry, and discussed proposals for programs and projects for cooperation in the future, especially in the areas of building youth capabilities, developing their skills to keep pace with developments taking place in the world, and harnessing modern technology and applications of artificial intelligence to achieve sustainable development as part of celebrating ICESCO Year of Youth, which will be officially launched at the end of this September.

    The meeting also touched upon academic cooperation between Moroccan universities and the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World, affiliated with ICESCO, and networking with member universities to cooperate in the fields of open education, training teachers, and publishing master and doctoral theses in different languages.

    After the conclusion of the meeting, Dr. Al-Malik accompanied Dr. Miraoui on a tour of the Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization, which is currently hosted at ICESCO Headquarters, as part of the strategic partnership between ICESCO, the Muslim World League, and the Mohammadia League of Scholars. Dr. Miraoui received detailed explanations about the contents of the pavilions and sections of the Exhibition and Museum which uses modern display technologies to tell and document in detail the Seerah of the Prophet, may the best prayers and peace be upon him.

    The Moroccan Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation expressed his admiration for what he saw at the Exhibition, stressing the importance of passing to the youth of the Islamic world this important information about the biography of the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, and the lofty values it carries.

    ICESCO Director General receives Ukrainian Ambassador in Rabat

    Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Ambassador Saienko Serhii, Ambassador of Ukraine to Morocco, on Tuesday, 5 September 2023, at the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat, to discuss prospects for cooperation between ICESCO and Ukraine in the fields of education, science and culture.

    During the meeting, which took place in the presence of several ICESCO’s heads of sector, Dr. AlMalik reviewed the main programs and activities implemented by the Organization as part of its vision and strategic orientations, which are based on openness and cooperation with all, intending to establish partnerships for the benefit of the Member States and Muslim communities worldwide, in its fields of competence.
    The Director General also pointed out that ICESCO allows non-member states to join as observer states, aimed at strengthening cooperation with the countries of the Islamic world in the fields of education, science and culture, and contributing to the promotion of the values of peace, coexistence and civilizational dialogue. The aim is also to capitalize on cultural diversity to bring people closer together, support innovation and benefit from technological advances.

    For his part, the Ukrainian ambassador praised ICESCO’s role in supporting the efforts of its Member States and expressed his willingness to establish a fruitful partnership between Ukraine and the Organization.

    ICESCO Takes Part in “Islamic Cooperation” Seminar on Youth Volunteering and Social Responsibility

    The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) took part in a seminar organized by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on youth volunteering and social responsibility in collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Sport. The seminar aimed to explore ways to engage young individuals in building their communities.

    During the webinar held on Monday, September 4, 2023, Ambassador Tariq Ali Bakheet delivered a speech on behalf of Mr. Hissein Brahim Taha, Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. He highlighted the importance of this opportunity for participants to understand the organization’s policies and programs for empowering youth, enhancing their capabilities, and exchanging views on the challenges they face, along with proposing sustainable solutions.

    In the seminar, ICESCO was represented by Mr. Alioune Ndiaye and Mrs. Faiza Fahmida, experts in the field of humanities and social sciences, and Mr. Djifa Agbezoukin, member of ICESCO’s Young Professionals Program. They presented the Organization’s vision and working strategy, which aims to empower young individuals and women and help them become agents of change in their communities through various initiatives, programs, and projects.

    It was also mentioned that this year the Organization celebrates ICESCO Year of Youth, under the esteemed patronage of His Excellency President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt. The official launch will take place in a grand ceremony in Cairo soon.

    ICESCO and Cameroon National Commission Hold Workshop on Image Archiving and Preservation Methods

    The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (ICESCO), in collaboration with the Cameroonian National Commission for UNESCO and ICESCO, and the Photographic Art Pole of Yaoundé, Cameroon, organised a capacity-building workshop in image archiving and preservation techniques for the benefit of photographers. This initiative was carried out under the ICESCO programme for the capacity-building of professionals in the field of culture, arts, and heritage in five African countries, namely, Côte d’Ivoire, the Comoros, Chad, Togo, and Cameroon.

    The workshop was organised as part of the celebration program of Yaoundé as the Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2022. The launch ceremony, which took place on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, saw the participation of the Secretary-General of the Cameroonian National Commission for UNESCO and ICESCO, Mr. Abdoul-Aziz Yaouba, in addition to several other officials from the Commission, the Ministry of Arts and Culture, and the Photographic Art Pole.

    For three days, 27 professional photographers received training in photographic image archiving and preservation techniques with a view of equipping them with the know-how necessary to contribute to enriching and maintaining collective memory. The beneficiaries have also learned about photo library management methods and gained awareness of the importance of contributing to the preservation of national cultural heritage.

    Opening of Applications for 2023 Leadership Training for Peace and Security Programme

    On the occasion of the Year of Youth, and with the rallying call “sowing the seeds of peace by mobilizing youth and women,” the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is delighted to announce the opening of applications for the 2023 Leadership Training for Peace and Security Programme (LTIPS) for the youth inside and outside the Islamic world. The candidates will receive, upon their selection and successful nomination, a training that will prepare them as ICESCO’s ambassadors for peace.‎

    ‎The new edition of this programme is part of the celebration of ICESCO’s Year of Youth, held under the High Patronage of His Excellency Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, President of Egypt. The official launch will soon be organized in Cairo in a major international celebration.

    ICESCO encourages the youth to participate in this programme that aims to build their capacities and foster their leadership skills through 10 holistic training modules that adopt ICESCO’s 360o approach to peace while focusing on the different dimensions of peacebuilding and strengthening, interaction with cross-generational inspirational leaders from different countries and through Youth Peace Incubator sessions.

    At the end of the training, ICESCO will award the Best Innovative Youth Projects for Peace. The 2023 winners will benefit from financial and technical support to implement their projects and will be appointed ICESCO’s peace ambassadors.
    The applicants for Leadership Training for Peace and Security Programme should meet the following criteria:
    • Be aged between 18 and 35 as of 31 December 2023;
    • Have proven engagement in peace, security, leadership and women-youth empowerment issues either at the research level or at the level of associations and CSOs;
    • Be proficient in one of ICESCO’s main languages (Arabic-English-French) to participate in all sessions.

    Terms, information and form of application are available via https://icesco.org/en-ltips. Applications should be sent no later than 30 september 2023, at 23:59 (GMT). A special jury will review the applications, and nominees will receive the programme schedule.

    ICESCO Invites Specialists to Contribute Research Papers on “Civilizational Diplomacy”

    The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in collaboration with the University of Al-Qadi Ayyad in the Kingdom of Morocco, invites all researchers and specialists to submit research papers on the concept of civilizational diplomacy. An academic committee consisting of experts and professors in the field will evaluate the submitted research papers, awarding cash prizes to accepted papers and publishing them in a special edition that also includes the proceedings of the international conference dubbed “Civilizational Diplomacy… Intersectional Readings,” organized by ICESCO in partnership with Al-Qadi Ayyad University in Marrakech on June 2nd and 3rd, 2023.

    The research papers must address one of the conference’s themes, which include: contributions to the theoretical foundation of the concept of civilizational diplomacy, issues in civilizational diplomacy, and presumed roles of actors in civilizational diplomacy. The author of each accepted research paper will receive a financial award of USD500.

    To participate, research papers must be original and previously unpublished, meeting rigorous scientific research criteria regarding methodology, problem statement, and academic integrity in citations. An objective and scholarly approach must be employed, together with the adoption of an analytical style. Furthermore, the content of the research paper should not exceed 5,000 words, and its title should also be translated into English, with the provision of an English-language abstract of up to 150 words, along with a bibliography at the end of the study.

    Those interested in participating should send their submissions to the following email address: assia.elachouch@icesco.org.

    Please observe the following deadlines:

    • The deadline for receiving preliminary research proposals is October 15, 2023.
    • The deadline for delivering the finalized papers is
      November 25, 2023.

    This invitation comes as evidence of the firm belief in the importance of the concept of “civilizational diplomacy” which reflects the intersection of diplomatic relations with cultural and human dimensions. It aims to promote the values of peace and understanding among diverse peoples and cultures, harness cultural achievements to realize peaceful diplomatic objectives and enhance cooperation and the exchange of knowledge between nations and societies.

    ICESCO takes part in Stardust Modern Technology and Space Science Festival in Canada

    The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) took part in the Stardust Festival, the annual festival held in the city of Timmins, Ontario, Canada, to promote STEM innovation and discuss the applications of space sciences and the future opportunities they offer. The Festival features several activities and exhibitions and fosters the exchange of expertise and knowledge aimed at training future generations of innovators and explorers and introducing young people to the latest developments in the field of modern technology.

    The Festival is being held from August 26 to September 1, 2023, by the City of Timmins and the Stardust Alliance at the College Boreal in Timmins, amid high-caliber participation, including many officials in institutions specialized in space sciences across the globe.

    Dr. Mohammed Sharif, Advisor at the Sector of Science and Technology, represented ICESCO at the Festival, where he highlighted the Organization’s efforts in the field of space science applications. He also talked about the initiatives launched by ICESCO to promote these sciences in its Member States, notably the numerous training workshops held on designing CAN-SAT in the Islamic world to provide an opportunity for young researchers to exchange ideas and expertise in the field of space science, in addition to international seminars and conferences to explore the promising potential of these sciences and their applications and the challenges to overcome.

    ICESCO Project Launched in Palestine to Help People with Disabilities Integrate into Society

    The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with the Palestinian National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, launched the project “Our rights are equal… Our life is shared,” which aims to enhance the integration of people with disabilities into the Palestinian society, raise their aware of the rights guaranteed by local and international laws, and raise awareness of the principle of equality among society members through workshops that span six months.
    During the launch ceremony, held on Thursday, August 31, 2023, at the headquarters of the Palestinian General Union for People with Disability, Dr. Dawwas Dawwas, Secretary-General of the Palestinian National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, Chairman of ICESCO Executive Council, commended the Organization’s efforts, stressing the need to benefit from its support in taking care of children with disabilities and guaranteeing their rights.


    For his part, Mr. Magdy Marei, Secretary-General of the Palestinian General Union for People with Disability, commended ICESCO’s efforts and its roles in serving its Member States, stressing his keenness to cooperate with the Organization in areas of common interest.


    Dr. Hassan El-Hajjami, Expert at the Social and Human Sciences Sector, represented ICESCO at the ceremony, via videoconference, pointing out that the Organization places youth, women and children at the forefront of its priorities, including people with disabilities, and strives to develop their creative skills and build their entrepreneurial capacities through several pioneering projects and programmes.