Category: News update

Tomorrow, Thursday, March 24, 2022, will mark the the inauguration of the Celebration of Rabat as 2022 Culture Capital in the Islamic world, at Mohammed V Theater in a major event that seeks to highlight the Kingdom’s rich cultural and artistic heritage. The ceremony is supervised by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication in the Kingdom of Morocco, under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him.

During the ceremony, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, will hand over the celebration flag of Rabat as 2022 Culture Capital in the Islamic World to Mr. Al-Mahdi Bensaid, Moroccan Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, to mark the inauguration of the year-long and diverse celebration program.

His Majesty King Mohammed VI has given his royal directives to the esteemed Moroccan Government to accord utmost attention to this celebration, under the supervision of the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, which will coordinate and oversee the implementation of the general program of the celebration.

The selection of the city of Rabat as Culture Capital, within the framework of ICESCO’s Programme for Culture Capitals in the Islamic World, is based on the city’s long-standing and rich cultural heritage, international cultural and artistic institutions and presence in the Arab, Islamic, African and Mediterranean regions. Under the high royal directives, the city is also witnessing an urban resurgence aiming at rendering Rabat an international cultural center and a tourist destination to Moroccans and foreigners alike.

Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Mr. Ibrahim Muhammad Bashir, Secretary-General of the National Commission for Education, Science and Culture of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to ICESCO, and a delegation from the “Nigeria Arabic Language Village, Ngala” University Center in Borno State, Nigeria. The meeting aimed at exploring avenues of cooperation between ICESCO and Nigeria.

During the meeting, held on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, the two parties agreed on signing an agreement that focuses on humanitarian, social and educational issues and seeks to launch a project geared towards addressing the COVID-19 pandemic by supporting innovation and youth and women leadership in partnership with Alwaleed Philanthropies Foundation. The two parties also agreed on concluding a second agreement to establish a Training Pole for Excellence in the field of Arabic Language in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
For his part, Mr. Ibrahim Muhammad Bashir expressed Nigeria’s keenness to build fruitful cooperation with ICESCO, commending the Organization’s notable roles in the fields of education, science and culture and its efforts to assist its Member States and humanity at large.

During their visit to ICESCO headquarters, the Nigerian National Commission Secretary-General and his accompanying delegation met with heads of the Organization’s sectors, departments and centers, for further cooperation and deeper understanding.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in a special session under the theme “Enhance Global Cooperation in the Field of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic”, on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, as part of the 9th World Water Forum, which is held by the World Water Council and the Ministry of Water and Sanitation of Senegal, in cooperation with ICESCO and several bodies and organizations, in, Dakar, Republic of Senegal, on March 21-26, 2022, with the participation of many institutions, research centers, experts and specialists in water resources management and environmental protection.

Dr. Foued El-Ayni, Expert at ICESCO Science and Technology Sector, reviewed ICESCO’s efforts in the field of water, sanitation and hygiene, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, including the production of sanitizers and detergents in a number of Member States, the implementation of ICESCO’s Program for Water and Sanitation Services Improvement in 1000 rural schools in Muslim countries, as well as the organization of several environmental awareness-raising workshops on , and the promotion of the ways and mechanisms for cooperation with research centers and universities in the Islamic world to develop scientific research and innovation in the fields of water resource management and health.

The session also discussed the key global initiatives, programs and projects, highlighting the need to unify efforts between international and regional organizations, institutions and universities, in order to preserve water resources and protect the environment through knowledge and expertise sharing.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and Dr. Isatou Touray, Vice-President of the Republic of The Gambia, explored avenues of cooperation between the Organization and the Republic in ICESCO’s areas of competence.

During the meeting, which took place in the capital of Senegal, Dakar, Dr. AlMalik emphasized that, in light of its new vision and action strategy, ICESCO ensures constant and extensive communication with its Member States to identify their needs and priorities in relation to the Organization’s fields of competence, and devise programmes and activities accordingly in cooperation with the competent authorities in each country.

ICESCO DG reviewed the major programmes that the Organization is currently implementing, noting the special importance that ICESCO attaches to building youth and women capacities, anchoring the values ​​of coexistence, peace and civilizational dialogue, promoting investment in space sciences and harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence for educational, scientific and cultural development.
For her part, Dr. Touray commended ICESCO’s roles and efforts in assisting its Member States, stressing The Gambia’s keenness to build fruitful cooperation with the Organization in its areas of competence.

At the close of the meeting, ICESCO DG invited The Gambia’s Vice-President to the closing ceremony of ICESCO’s Year of Women 2021 to be held at the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat.

Ms. Ramata Almamy Mbaye, Head of ICESCO’s Human and Social Sciences Sector, attended the meeting.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) takes part in the 48th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which kicked off today (March 22, 2022) in Islamabad, Pakistan, under the theme “Building Partnerships for Unity, Justice and Development”.

Dr. Ahmed Said Bah, Adviser to the Director-General for Partnerships and International Cooperation, Supervisor of the General Secretariat of National Commissions and Conferences, represents ICESCO in this two-day meeting.

The meeting will discuss many issues of concern to the Islamic world and the global challenges facing Muslim countries as well as various economic, cultural, social, humanitarian and scientific issues. On the sidelines of this meeting, the participants will attend a brainstorming session to exchange ideas and visions on the role of the Islamic world in promoting peace, justice and harmony, and explore emerging issues on the international scene.

The Education Sector of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held a meeting with a team from the Ministry of National Education, Preschool and Sports in Morocco, and together they reviewed updates regarding the project on the establishment of a development model for basic education in Morocco. This project is part of the advisory services and institutional support contract between the Organization and the Ministry, in partnership with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).

During the meeting, which took place on Monday, March 21, 2022, at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, the two parties discussed mechanisms for implementing the project in line with the Ministry’s strategic orientations. They also stressed the need to provide insights on its major components, define the requirements for subject matter experts following the project’s specifications, agree on the administrative and legal procedures to be undertaken, elaborate an implementation roadmap, define the tasks and responsibilities, and coordinate the preparations of the project’s launch celebration.

The two parties emphasized the importance of this pioneering initiative that will contribute to the development of the educational system in Morocco through an innovative educational model bearing a new and comprehensive understanding of the concept of basic education. This project aligns with the strategic vision of the Ministry, which is underpinned by an endeavor to establish a new school reflecting the principles of equity, equal opportunity, and quality for all to uplift individuals and societies and contribute to sustainable development.