Category: News

In conjunction with the finals of the 2025 African Cup of Nations, currently hosted by the Kingdom of Morocco, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), held a conference on Monday, December 22, 2025, at its headquarters in Rabat under the theme “Leveraging Sport for Youth and Women Inclusion and Sustainable Development.” The event saw the participation of ministers, academics, and experts in the fields of youth and sports.

The conference explored ways sports can contribute to strengthening social and economic inclusion, support mental health and well-being, and stimulate new ideas in sports to serve the Sustainable Development Goals and effect real impact on those most in need.

In his opening remarks on behalf of Dr. Salim AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy DG, noted that the conference aligns with the Organization’s strategy to develop a sports model founded on collective action, institutional collaboration, innovation, and sustainability with the aim of amplifying the social impact of sports, positioning it as a catalyst for youth empowerment and women’s advancement, while reinforcing the principles of citizenship and solidarity.

Ms. Ramata Almamie Mbay, Head of ICESCO’s Social and Human Sciences Sector, presented the Organization’s renewed vision, which considers sport a lever for social inclusion, a driver of economic development, and a promoter of social cohesion.

In her turn, Ms. Khady Diène Gaye, Minister of Youth and Sports of Senegal, confirmed that her country has decided to prioritize sports as a central component of youth-centered public policies. She highlighted Senegal’s active involvement in a process of systemic transformation within the “Senegal 2050” Agenda.

Mr. Abdelrahman Ajbari, Head of the Division of Youth Institutions at the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, stated that sport in Morocco has become a significant catalyst for development, contributing to the enhancement of governance, training, and infrastructure modernization in the Kingdom. Ms. Laura Bill, UNICEF Representative in Morocco, underscored the pivotal role of sports in fostering inclusion and catalyzing sustainability and innovation.

In a recorded speech, Ms. Kanizat Ibrahim, Former CAF Vice-President and current member of the FIFA Council, underscored the potential of football to promote youth inclusion, women’s empowerment, and community cohesion. She emphasized the importance of sustainable partnerships and programs that can translate this approach into tangible results.

The conference featured two panel discussions. The first focused on sport, social and economic inclusion, and its role in youth employment. The second centered on sport, well-being, social cohesion, and sustainability. The conference concluded with a speech by Ms. Kenza Abourmane, Director of Youth at the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication of the Kingdom of Morocco.

Under the patronage and presence of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), participated in the ceremony celebrating the completion of the Doha Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language. The event took place on Monday, December 22nd, 2025, in Doha, Qatar, with high-level attendance including ministers, representatives of regional and international organizations, heads of language academies, members of the Dictionary’s scientific council, and experts and researchers.

In his remarks during the ceremony, Dr. AlMalik emphasized that ICESCO is fully committed to supporting the Dictionary, positioning itself as a gateway for this pioneering project to the Arab and Islamic world through a long-term strategic partnership. He noted that the Dictionary holds a unique distinction and excellence, meeting aspirations while anticipating future opportunities and challenges.

The ICESCO DG praised the patronage of H.H the Amir of Qatar for the dictionary project, which began 13 years ago and involved a select group of experts from across the Arab world. He stated: “The Doha Dictionary is the first of its kind to comprehensively document Arabic words and their meanings.”

Dr. AlMalik explained that the Dictionary, which includes more than 300,000 entries, represents a unique resource for scholars, students, and researchers. He affirmed that its completion is a milestone in the advancement of knowledge, and reflects the region’s ability to produce civilizational projects with global impact. He concluded his remarks by reciting a poem he composed for the occasion.

The ceremony also featured remarks by Ms. Lolwah bint Rashid bin Mohammed Al Khater, Qatari Minister of Education and Higher Education; Dr. Azzeddine Bouchikhi, Executive Director of the Doha Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language; Dr. Azmi Bishara, DG of the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies; and Dr. Mahmoud Al-Sayed, Head of the Arabic Language Academy in Damascus.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, H.H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani honored the experts, researchers, and editors who worked on completing the Dictionary project across its various stages.

The Doha Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language was launched in 2013 by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies in Qatar. The project includes a textual corpus of approximately one billion words. The Dictionary uniquely documents the evolution of Arabic words from their earliest appearances in inscriptions and texts, tracing changes in their forms and meanings within textual contexts and following the language’s chronological development.

The Financial Control Committee (FCC) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) concluded its annual meeting on Friday, 19 December 2025, at the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat. During the meeting, the Committee approved the financial reports submitted by the General Directorate, as well as the closing accounts for the 2024 financial year, reaffirming in its final report the high level of professionalism and transparency demonstrated in the presentation of data and the management of resources.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, had instructed heads of sectors within the Organization to extend full cooperation to FCC members, expressing his appreciation for their efforts and their role in strengthening ICESCO’s financial management system.

He also reaffirmed the General Directorate’s commitment to sustain cooperation, guided by a financial and administrative vision grounded in efficiency, responsibility, and the consolidation of sound governance principles.

The ICESCO FCC is composed of Mr. Yussuf Ali Najar, Representative of the State of Kuwait as Chairman of the Committee and Mr. Abdulaziz bin Saad Adabbas, Representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as Rapporteur.

The FCC is also comprised of three members, namely Mr. Heizrul bin Ali, Representative of Malaysia; Mr. Araz Baghirli, Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan; and Mr. El Hadji Habib Kébé, Representative of the Republic of Senegal.

Over the course of five days, the FCC held a series of meetings with officials from the General Secretariat of National Commissions and Conferences, as well as the Departments of Legal Affairs and International Standards, Administrative Operations, Financial Operations, and the Financial Control Office. These meetings focused on reviewing detailed financial reports and examining various documents related to accounting matters and expenditure across the Organization’s programs and projects.

FCC members also visited several ICESCO sectors to gain first-hand insight into administrative and financial work mechanisms, as well as the monitoring and auditing systems in place.

At the close of the meeting, the Committee expressed its satisfaction with the level of financial discipline and the quality of the reports presented, noting that the consolidation of a culture of transparency and accountability within ICESCO enhances partners’ confidence and supports the Organization’s capacity to mobilize additional resources in service of the priorities of its Member States.

The FCC’s report is scheduled to be submitted to ICESCO’s Executive Council and General Conference in the coming months.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Dr. Khaled El-Enany, UNESCO Director-General, on Friday, 19 December 2025, at UNESCO headquarters in Paris.

During the meeting, the two parties agreed to further develop the partnership agreement signed between the two organizations, ushering in a new phase of cooperation and institutional synergy, and enhancing the impact of joint action in the fields of education, culture, and science at both the regional and international levels.

At the outset of the meeting, Dr. AlMalik extended his congratulations to Dr. El-Enany on assuming the position of UNESCO Director-General for the 2025–2029 term, expressing his aspiration to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two organizations in the coming period, in a manner that keeps pace with global transformations and serves the interests of the Member States.

Moreover, the Director-General underscored the importance of complementarity between ICESCO and UNESCO within their respective areas of expertise, and the key role of joint action in fulfilling the civilizational mission of international organizations, while enhancing their impact in supporting education, safeguarding culture, and advancing science.

The two parties agreed to update the partnership agreement to include new priority areas of cooperation, notably strategic foresight, artificial intelligence, and the preservation of endangered world heritage. The parties also agreed to organize joint programs and activities that reflect the complementary roles of both organizations.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Osama Heikal, Head of ICESCO’s Media and Communication Sector, and Ms. Somia Djakta, Head of the ICESCO Office to UNESCO.

Following the meeting, Dr. Khaled El-Enany hosted a luncheon in honor of the ICESCO Director-General and his accompanying delegation, marking their first visit to UNESCO Headquarters since he assumed his duties.