Category: News update

The Center for Civilizational Dialogue at the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in an international Symposium on climate issues and the importance of solidarity in achieving sustainable development goals, which was held by the Nomadhood Platform, in partnership with several regional and international institutions and bodies, on the occasion of the International Youth Day, to share knowledge and experiences in the field of the environment and enhance the role of youth in the World Climate Summit COP27, to be hosted by the Arab Republic of Egypt, next November, in Sharm El-Sheikh.

The Center for Civilizational Dialogue was represented in the Symposium, via videoconference, by Dr. Huda Abdullah Megeirhi, Expert at the Center, where she highlighted ICESCO’s programmes, initiatives and activities to promote dialogue between civilizations and generations and raise awareness among young people about the importance of environmental protection, stressing the necessity of environmental dialogue based on respect for human values and principles of truth, justice and tolerance.

Dr. Megeirhi noted that ICESCO is keen on promoting a culture of dialogue about climate, the development of ecosystems and the preservation of biodiversity, through the use of modern environmental technologies and the promotion of the use of green technology, to contribute to achieving food security, peace and security in the countries of the Islamic world.

The Science and Technology Sector of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with Katalyst Laboratories, launched ICESCO Training Programme for young people on how to establish and develop small businesses in the field of technology and innovation in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The Programme will be launched in ten Member States by the end of 2022, as part of ICESCO’s strategy and action plan, which aims at supporting more than 150 start-ups in the field of innovation and technology in its Member States by 2025.

70 participants, divided into 14 teams, will benefit from this Training Programme, which was launched on August 4, 2022. Within six weeks they will take part in intensive training sessions and workshops on how to carry out studies related to the economic model of their businesses in the areas of financial technology, digital media, tourism and food technology, agricultural technology, entertainment and games, under the supervision of experts, investors and stakeholders in the field of business and enterprise development, to enhance the skills of young people in several cities of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and promote investment in human capital in the field of science and entrepreneurship.

This Programme was launched in the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Kyrgyzstan and the Republic of Kazakhstan. A special jury will select the best three teams that submitted projects from each country to compete in the final stage, which will be held at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat. The selected teams will present their pioneering projects to several institutions, donors and investors to provide the necessary funding for their implementation.

The Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW), affiliated with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and the American Space Foundation discussed cooperation mechanisms related to space sciences.

This was part of the virtual meeting, held on Wednesday (August 3, 2022), that brought together Dr. Omar Halli, Advisor to the Director-General of ICESCO for FUIW, and Ms. Shelly Brunswick, COO of Space Foundation, as well as Dr. Muhammad Sharif, Advisor at ICESCO Science and Technology Sector.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the possibility of organizing a major international forum on women and space and stressed the need to work on building a comprehensive vision that ensures communication between the FUIW universities to promote a successful and long-term fruitful partnership with the American Space Foundation.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) took part in a workshop on strengthening the capacities of national institutions specializing in social development in the OIC Member States, which is aimed at facilitating the exchange of expertise for an effective response to challenges in the field of social development. The event was held by the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC).

The two-day workshop, which kicked off on Tuesday, August 2, 2022, in the OIC Member States, brought together a host of experts and representatives of international organizations and national institutions specializing in the fields of marriage and family, child care, and protection of the elderly and people with special needs.

Ms. Ramata Almamy Mbaye, Head of the Human and Social Sciences Sector, Ms. Amira El Fadil, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, and members of the sectors’ working groups, represented ICESCO at the workshop.

In her intervention, Mrs. Ramata reviewed the major thrusts of ICESCO’s strategy, highlighting the Organization’s programmes in the area of peace consolidation, and its initiatives on youth and women capacity-building, namely the Project on “Countering COVID-19 Effects through Supporting Innovation and Entrepreneurship among Women and Youth.”

The Regional Educational Center of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in Chad is establishing a new cell in Abéché, capital of Ouaddaï Region, to support and encourage Arabic educational, scientific, cultural and media activities, rehabilitate teachers of Arabic and bilingual schools (French – Arabic) and upgrade their educational and professional competence.

Dr. Ali Qamar, Director of ICESCO Regional Educational Center in Chad, accompanied by a delegation from Qatar Charity, visited the land designated for building the cell, in the presence of a delegation from the Ministry of National Education in Ouaddaï Region and the coordinator of ICESCO Regional Educational Center in Abéché.

In addition to the ICESCO Regional Educational Center cell, the project will include several other facilities, funded by Qatar Charity.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Ambassador Saulekul Sailaukyzy, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of Morocco, and together discussed the latest developments in the cooperation between ICESCO and Kazakhstan and reviewed the arrangements for the Director-General’s visit to the country to attend the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, to be held in Nur-Sultan, on 13-15 September 2022.

During the meeting, held today, Tuesday, August 2, 2022, at ICESCO Headquarters, the two parties discussed the key items on the Congress’s agenda, which is organized by Nursultan Nazarbayev Center for Development of Interfaith and Inter-civilizational Dialogue. The Congress will bring together several senior religious leaders, prominent international personalities active in the fields of thought, civilizational dialogue and religious history, in addition to a large number of bodies and institutions.

The two parties also discussed the agenda of the DG’s visit to Kazakhstan and the scheduled meetings with senior officials to explore the prospects of promoting cooperation between the Organization and the country in the fields of education, science and culture.

For her part, the Ambassador reaffirmed the great attention accorded to the Director-General’s visit to her country, stressing its keenness to promote cooperation with the Organization in areas of common interest.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the World Design Organization (WDO), which is specialized in promoting and developing industrial design systems to improve the quality of socio-economic, cultural and environmental life, held a meeting to discuss the cooperation mechanisms likely to contribute to the development of the field of design as a promising sector that can improve the quality of life in Muslim countries.

Dr. Kais Hammami, Director of the Center of Strategic Foresight, and Ms. Doha Mghabbar, from the Center of Strategic Foresight, represented ICESCO in this virtual meeting, which was held on Monday (August 1, 2022) while the Organization was represented by Mr. David Kusuma, President of WDO; Mr. Bertrand Derome, General Manager; and Ms. Andrea Springer, Director of Programmes and Communications.
During the meeting, the two parties agreed to enhance cooperation in the areas of common interest, most notably building the capacities of youth and women through joint practical and result-based programmes, projects and activities.

Besides, WDO invited ICESCO to participate in a global design lecture that will be held in Fez, Kingdom of Morocco, next September, in addition to the Young Designers Programme.

The Education Sector of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held a meeting with the Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation (KSCF) in the United States of America, and together they discussed avenues for closer cooperation between the Organization and the Foundation in the areas of education, combating child labour, and safeguarding children’s rights.
During the meeting with Ms. Anjali Kochar, KSCF Executive Director, ICESCO representatives reviewed the key programmes and projects that the Organization is implementing in light of its vision and strategic orientations, which aim at ensuring the right to quality and inclusive education for all, contribute to the fight against child labour, and the reduction of dropouts in schools.

The two parties discussed the means and mechanisms to foster cooperation between ICESCO and KSCF and agreed on establishing a fruitful partnership to achieve their objectives of ensuring the right to education and contributing to achieving comprehensive development, through the joint implementation of a set of programmes, projects and practical activities with tangible outcomes.
The meeting touched upon inviting KSCF to ICESCO’s event that will take place in New York, concurrently with the Transforming Education Summit (TES) 2022, to be held next September during the 77th United Nations General Assembly.

The meeting brought together Dr. Barry Koumbou, Head of ICESCO’s Education Sector, Ms. Amira El Fadil, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, and a host of Programme Managers and Experts at the Education Sector.

A delegation from the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held a meeting on Friday, July 29, 2022, with several officials from the German Federal Foreign Office at its headquarters in Berlin.

The meeting brought together Mr. Paul Voronen, Official in Charge of Relations between the European Union, Maghreb, Middle and Near East, Ms. Sina Stoffer, Desk Officer in Charge of International Cultural Cooperation for the Maghreb, Middle and Near East, and representatives of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung. ICESCO’s delegation consisted of Dr. Kais Hammami, Head of the Center for Strategic Foresight, Mr. Mohamed Hedi Shili, Head of the Department of Legal Affairs and International Standards, and Dr. Mohammad Sharif, Advisor at the Sector of Science and Technology.

The ICESCO delegation highlighted ICESCO’s vision and strategic orientations, in addition to the major programs and projects the Organization implements for the benefit of its Member States in the fields of education, science, culture and human rights. The delegation also discussed ICESCO’s efforts to fight against violent extremism, anchor the values of peace and civilizational dialogue, spread the culture of strategic foresight and support vulnerable groups.

Moreover, the ICESCO delegation highlighted the open-door policy the Organization has adopted three years ago, along with its new Charter that enables non-Member States to join ICESCO as Observer States.

For their part, the representatives of the German Federal Foreign Office expressed their appreciation for ICESCO’s efforts for the benefit of its Member States and Muslim communities across the globe, particularly women, young people and children. They also reaffirmed the Office’s keenness to develop cooperation with ICESCO in areas of common interest.