Category: News update

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) organized a training workshop on “Health and Hygiene” for the benefit of 150 teachers in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. the Pakistan National Commission for UNESCO and ICESCO and the National Skills University, the workshop aimed to equip teachers with essential knowledge and practical skills to promote health and hygiene practices in schools. This initiative forms part of ICESCO’s flagship program to enhance water and sanitation services in 1,000 rural schools across the Islamic world.

The three-day workshop, which concluded on Friday 6 November 2024, featured interactive sessions and practical activities covering diverse topics, including personal hygiene, school health programs, disease prevention, and fostering healthy environments. The discussions highlighted the pivotal role of teachers in ensuring healthier communities by instilling health and hygiene practices in students.

In a videoconference address, Dr. Mohamed Sharif, Advisor to the Science and Environment Sector at ICESCO, reviewed the Organization’s efforts and initiatives to promote the use of advanced technologies in health and hygiene practices. Dr. Sharif emphasized the importance of collaboration to strengthen the capacities of ICESCO Member States in health sector and reiterated the Organization’s commitment to expanding international partnerships to better integrate emerging technologies into national development strategies.

The closing ceremony of the workshop was attended by notable figures, including Ms. Farah Naz Akbar, Parliamentary Secretary for Federal Education and Professional Training; Mr. Aftab Khan, Secretary-General of the Pakistan National Commission for UNESCO; Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar, Vice Chancellor of the National Skills University Islamabad; and Mr. Masood Sikandar, Director General of Basic Education.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) took part in the World Forum on the Alliance of Civilizations organized on December 6 and 7, 2024 by the Euromed University of Fez (UEMF), in Morocco, under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him. The Forum, held under the theme “Rebuilding trust for a united and plural world”, brought together senior officials, intellectuals, academics and religious leaders from several countries.

Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, ICESCO Deputy Director -General, took part in the first plenary session of the Forum on the theme “Towards an alliance for peace through trust: paths towards building peaceful, cohesive and just societies through the advancement of interreligious, intercultural and intercivilizational dialogue.” Dr. Benarafa spoke of the need to rebuild global trust, and the importance of international cooperation in tackling the global challenges that threaten world peace.

He explained that, in order to restore trust in international relations, it was necessary to draw inspiration from the “therapeutic alliance” model in the field of health, so as to remedy global imbalances. This model itself, he pointed out, is based on transparency, solidarity and mutual trust, and involves a genuine commitment on the part of countries to cooperate on global issues such as climate change, peacebuilding, social justice and respect for human and humanitarian rights.

Dr. Benarafa also underscored ICESCO’s initiatives and programs dedicated to promoting peace. These include declaring April 1st as the International Day of Mercy on April 21 each year, the Young Ambassadors for Peace program, the publication of the first Encyclopedia on Deconstructing Extremist Discourse in cooperation with the Mohammadia League of Scholars, and the launch of the Peace 360° initiative.

Additionally, Dr. Mohammed Zinelabidine, Head of ICESCO’s Culture and Communication Sector, participated in the third session of the Forum titled: “Transparency, accountability and trust: the foundations of sustainable global governance”. Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman, Head of the Center for Civilizational Dialogue, participated in the fourth session: “Preventive diplomacy and international cooperation through trust: towards a more secure world”.

The Forum was marked by the official inauguration of the Alliance of Civilizations Chair, chaired by Dr. Abdelhak Azzouzi, as well as the presentation of the Mediterranean Awards, which recognize outstanding productions in the field of peace, development and innovation.

The headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in Rabat hosted the closing ceremony for the training of the third cohort of “Misk” Foundation youth. This training program spanned 10 weeks across ICESCO’s sectors, centers, and departments, as part of the on-the-job training program offered by the “Misk” Foundation for young individuals from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Initiative is part of the partnership and cooperation between ICESCO and the Foundation, in coordination with the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science.

The Ceremony, held today, Friday 29 November 2024, commenced with a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran. This was followed by a speech by Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General of ICESCO, who emphasized that the Organization, through its programs, projects, and activities, strives to keep pace with the global developments in knowledge and technology. It also provides training opportunities for young talents to build their capacities and enhance their cognitive potential to shape future leadership.

He commended the youth of this edition of the Program, the implementation of which was overseen by ICESCO’s Human Capital Department, praising their seriousness and dedication during the training period at the Organization, where they presented a commendable model of Saudi Arabia’s youth.

In his speech, Mr. Hani bin Hamza Mansi, Deputy Secretary-General of the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science, stated that the training program reflects ICESCO’s efforts to contribute to youth development. He also highlighted the distinguished partnership between ICESCO, the National Commission, and the “Misk” Foundation, which aligns with Saudi Vision 2030.

Ms. Asmaa Al-Jasser, Director-General of the Misk Skills Track at “Misk” Foundation, affirmed that the Foundation’s efforts, initiatives, and programs aim to promote education and develop leadership skills to build a better future by empowering youth. She expressed her pride in the promising young talents of the third cohort of the program.

During the Ceremony, Misk trainees presented proposals and concepts for several innovative programs, projects, and initiatives that they developed during their training at ICESCO. These initiatives focused on areas such as the educational, economic, and social inclusion of individuals with special needs; enhancing communication with media professionals, content creators, and influencers; improving the quality of life for children in remote areas; and bridging the gap between scientific research and the needs of countries and societies. The Event concluded with a performance by the trainees of The Saudi Ardha, showcasing their cultural heritage.

At the end of the Ceremony, Misk trainees were awarded certificates and commemorative shields for their successful and distinguished completion of the intensive training period at ICESCO.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) hosted at its headquarters in Rabat a high-level symposium on “Economic Opportunities and Challenges Facing the Islamic World,” as part of its reception of a delegation from the Board of Directors; members of the Arab Society for Economic Research; representatives of the Arab Planning Institute in Kuwait, the Egyptian Institute of National Planning, and the Policy Center for the New South in Morocco. The symposium witnessed rich discussions between the participating ambassadors and economic experts and the key speaker Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Arab Society for Economic Research and UN Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The symposium, which was held on Thursday evening (28 November 2024), kicked off with a speech by Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, ICESCO Deputy Director General, in which he stressed that the world is going through a period of major instabilities and transformations, and that the Organization’s Member States have real opportunities to benefit from these challenges and transform them into opportunities and invest in them, pointing out that the Islamic world should pool its efforts to serve its supreme interests.

This was followed by a discussion session moderated by Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman, Director of ICESCO Centre for Civilizational Dialogue. During this session Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin reviewed the current economic and developmental situations in the countries of the Islamic world showing the available opportunities for achieving sustainable development through building regional cooperation pathways away from global geopolitical conflicts.

He stated that economic progress is based on three main factors: providing funding, technological development for its ability to reduce development costs, and behavioral change, which is the most important factor, for the key role it plays in changing negative behaviors that hinder communities and peoples from achieving real growth. When mentioning some pioneering development models in a number of Islamic countries, he highlighted their specificities and their correlations with some transformative factors that cannot be replicated in other countries.

Afterwards, ICESCO and the Arab Society for Economic Research exchanged commemorative shields.
At the end of the symposium, ICESCO and the Union of Chambers of Commerce signed a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in the fields of sustainable development and green economy, socio-economic inclusion of gender equality and youth entrepreneurship, and the promotion of research and development in key industries. The MoU was signed on behalf of ICESCO by Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of ICESCO’s Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, and Dr. Khaled Hanafy, Secretary-General of the Federation of Arab Chambers.

The delegation toured the galleries of the International Exhibition and Museum of Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization, which is currently hosted at ICESCO headquarters, in a tripartite partnership between ICESCO, the Muslim World League, and the Mohammedia League of Scholars.