Category: News

As part of its Leadership Training in Peace and Security (LTIPS) program, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held a webinar on 3 November 2026 titled “Peace and Sustainability: Why Environment, Food Security and Natural Resources Matter in Peacebuilding?” The webinar was organized in preparation for the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31), being held this November in Türkiye. Representatives of international organizations, experts and young civil society leaders took part to examine the close links between environmental protection, food security, natural resources and sustainable peace.

Speaking at the webinar’s opening session, organized by ICESCO’s Social and Human Sciences Sector and Science and Environment Sector, Ms. Ramata Almamy Mbaye, Head of the Social and Human Sciences Sector, highlighted the success of the LTIPS program, which has trained 227 Young Peace Ambassadors from 81 countries. She stressed the importance of sustained youth engagement in environmental action, the need to move beyond treating environmental issues, food security and peacebuilding as separate concerns, and the importance of adopting a comprehensive, integrated approach.

For his part, Dr. Muhammad Sabieh Anwar, Deputy Head of the Science and Environment Sector, speaking on behalf of the Sector’s Head, Dr. Yergaliyev Kuanysh, emphasized the importance of such participatory initiatives. He commended ICESCO’s “Peace 360°” approach, which offers a distinct and more comprehensive vision for peacebuilding.

The first session was moderated by Mr. Alioune Ndiaye, Head of the Peace Division at ICESCO’s Social and Human Sciences Sector, with the participation of Mr. Bakytzhan Arystanbek of the Islamic Organization for Food Security, Ms. Esther Marner of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, Dr. Momodou Lamin Joof of the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC), and Dr. Fahman Fathurahman, expert at ICESCO’s Science and Environment Sector. The session explored the interconnections between the environment and peacebuilding, with speakers presenting the practical approaches implemented by their institutions in this field.

The second session, moderated by Dr. Wissam Chehade, expert at ICESCO’s Science and Environment Sector, focused on ways youth and women can contribute to peacebuilding by strengthening environmental resilience and food security. Participants included Mr. Ari Adipratomo of The Climate Reality Project in Indonesia, and Ms. Roukiatou Traoré and Ms. Kumba Jobarteh, ICESCO Young Peace Ambassadors. They shared their field experiences and encouraged young people to take initiative and actively engage in environmental action.

The second Regional Seminar on Cultural Heritage Nomination of Cultural Heritage Properties and Integrated Management continued for a second consecutive day in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), represented by its Regional Office in Baku and the Islamic World Heritage Center, is holding the seminar in partnership with Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Culture and Information and the Kazakh Research Institute of Culture. The event aims to strengthen sustainable heritage management skills in Central Asia and the Caucasus.

In a recorded address during the seminar, held from 3 to 5 November 2026, Dr. Abdulhakeem AlSenan, Director of the ICESCO Regional Office, stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation, sharing expertise and building capacities to protect heritage and safeguard its components.

The seminar program includes a training workshop attended by 14 heritage and culture experts and specialists from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. The workshop is supervised by Dr. Bilel Chebbi, Program Manager at the Center, Dr. Muhammad Al-Absi and Mr. Mirshod Nishonov, experts at the Center. It aims to finalize a number of nomination files on the Islamic World Heritage Tentative List and enhance the conservation and sound management of the sites concerned with a view to promoting their international recognition.

The seminar is part of efforts to implement the recommendations of the 13th meeting of the Islamic World Heritage Committee, held in Uzbekistan, in February 2026, which emphasized the need to strengthen technical expertise and regional integration in heritage conservation.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and its Federation of the Islamic World Universities (FIWU), in partnership with Westminster International University in Tashkent, held the 3rd edition of the Inclusive Innovation Masterclass Series, titled “Innovation as a Diplomatic Tool: A System Approach,” on 29 October 2026 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The event took place on the sidelines of the International Week of Innovative Ideas (InnoWeek), organized by Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation.

The masterclass brought together 40 entrepreneurs, experts and innovation specialists. They discussed ways of harnessing innovation to strengthen international cooperation and explored the potential of science diplomacy for advancing scientific research and industry and for building human capital capacities in modern technology.

ICESCO was represented at the masterclass by Dr. Issam Krimi, Head of the Innovation and Creativity Division in the Science and Environment Sector. He emphasized that the training aimed to raise awareness of the importance of knowledge in serving communities, highlighting the role of universities, government bodies and the private sector in strengthening innovation systems.

ICESCO’s participation in InnoWeek also included a presentation by Dr. Krimi during a panel discussion titled “Strengthening the Transition from Research to Innovation,” as well as meetings with officials from Uzbekistan’s El-Yurt Umidi Foundation, the Commission and Oxentia to explore cooperation opportunities in areas of mutual interest.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is participating in the Fifth UNESCO Conference on Higher Education in the Arab States, organized by Qatar’s Ministry of Education and Higher Education in cooperation with UNESCO and the Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science. Held under the theme “The Evolving Landscape of Higher Education in the Arab Region,” the conference brings together senior officials, decision-makers, university leaders, experts, and representatives of regional and international organizations concerned with higher education.

ICESCO is represented at the conference, held on 2 and 3 November 2026 in Doha, by Dr. Kuanysh Yergaliyev, Head of the Science and Environment Sector, Supervisor of the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World of ICESCO, and Dr. Ahmed Albanyan, Head of the Education Sector, Supervisor of the Translation and Publishing Center.

Speaking on behalf of Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, Dr. Kuanysh Yergaliyev reaffirmed the Organization’s commitment to supporting higher education systems in its Member States and its readiness to strengthen cooperation and partnerships with ministries, universities, and academic institutions. These efforts aim to improve the quality and performance of higher education and enhance its contribution to sustainable development. He also highlighted ICESCO’s commitment to deepening cooperation with its various partners and called for intensified joint efforts to exchange best practices, expertise, knowledge, and resources and make them more accessible to universities throughout the Islamic world, thereby strengthening academic integration and expanding opportunities for cooperation, scientific research, and innovation.

Over two days, the conference features a series of high-level dialogue sessions and discussions addressing the key transformations and challenges shaping the future of higher education in the Arab region, ways to develop its systems, and opportunities to strengthen regional and international cooperation in this field. The discussions also focused on reinforcing joint Arab institutional commitment to advancing higher education.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Dr. Thaer Abubaker, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to the Kingdom of Morocco, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat on Monday, 2 November 2026. The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation in education, science, and culture.

Dr. AlMalik began by congratulating Dr. Abubaker on his appointment as Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Morocco, wishing him every success in his diplomatic mission. He reiterated ICESCO’s firm commitment to providing all forms of support to Palestinian entities working in the areas within the Organization’s competence. He also underscored that the Palestinian cause and cooperation with the State of Palestine remain among ICESCO’s priorities.

Dr. AlMalik also affirmed ICESCO’s readiness to organize joint artistic and cultural activities to raise awareness of the civilizational identity of Palestinian society and the Islamic world. He further called for Palestinian young people to take part in ICESCO’s “10k AI Leaders” Program, which is due to be launched in the coming period.

The Director-General highlighted several of ICESCO’s initiatives in support of Palestine, including financial assistance for hundreds of Palestinian students in Morocco and Egypt, as well as an event held at ICESCO headquarters in November 2025 to mark the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

For his part, Ambassador Abubaker thanked Dr. AlMalik for the warm reception and commended ICESCO’s efforts to support Palestinian students. He expressed Palestine’s willingness to work with ICESCO on developing academic, scientific, and cultural activities and programs, and raising awareness of Palestinian cultural heritage.

Ambassador Abubaker also spoke about the situation in Palestine and the challenges facing the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip in recent times, particularly the shortage of drinking water and essential supplies.

At the end of the meeting, Dr. AlMalik accompanied Ambassador Abubaker and his delegation on a tour of ICESCO’s studio and the Sultan Qaboos Library at the Organization’s headquarters.

The meeting was attended by, on behalf of ICESCO, Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General; Osama Heikal, Head of the Media and Communication Sector; Ambassador Khalid Fathurrahman, Director of the Center for Civilizational Dialogue; and Dr. Nidal Abuzuhri, Director of the Department of Administrative Operations.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) has launched the third edition of its “Cities of Poetry” competition, celebrating this year Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, as part of the city’s proclamation as Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2026.

The competition, organized by ICESCO Center for Poetry and Literature, aims to celebrate the Culture Capitals in the Islamic World by highlighting the enduring connection between poetry and place, which has inspired timeless masterpieces of world poetry over the centuries. It also seeks to document cities’ history and geography through poetry and aesthetics, while honoring the figures and civilizations that shaped the glory of the Culture Capitals in the Islamic World.

For the first time, the third edition is open to entries in three languages: Classical Arabic, Tatar, and Russian. This reflects Kazan’s rich cultural diversity and enables a broader range of poets to participate.

Submissions will remain open until 31 January 2027. A specialized committee from ICESCO, together with a group of renowned poets, will then evaluate the entries and select three winners. The first-prize winner will receive US$3,000, the second-prize winner US$2,000, and the third-prize winner US$1,000. ICESCO will also publish a collection featuring the winning poems and other notable submissions.

Entry requirements are as follows:
• The poem must be written in Classical Arabic, Tatar, or Russian;
• Arabic poems must adhere to classical (vertical) or free verse meters, while poems in Tatar or Russian must conform to the metrical and aesthetic standards of Tatar and Russian poetry, respectively;
• The poem must draw inspiration from Kazan’s values, aesthetics, history, geography, prominent figures, unique character, and heritage;
• The poem must not exceed 30 verses or lines;
• Winning poets may not participate in the next consecutive edition of the competition.
ICESCO invites poets of all ages to participate in the competition through the following link:
https://icesco.org/qpoz