The 45th Islamic Commission for Economic, Cultural & Social Affairs (ICECS) preparatory to the 49th Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) to be held on 16-17 March next at Nouakchott, Islamic Republic of Mauritania, closed its deliberations on 24 January 2023 with adoption of all draft Resolutions considered by the Senior Official from the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), as well as the final Report of the Meeting.
In fact, within the draft Resolution of the IOFS, the participating Member States reinforced the Organization’s mandate on Afghanistan by requesting its involvement in the humanitarian food assistance to Afghan refugees displaced in different neighboring countries, as well as the mandate for the IOFS to liaise with Member States and relevant OIC Institutions in implementing relevant programmes within the new Africa Food Security Initiative (AFSI).
Separately, His Excellency Mr. Yerlan Baidaulet, Director General of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), had the chance to exchange views with His Excellency Ambassador Saleh Hamad Alsuhabani Saudi, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to OIC, to particularly follow up on the productive results of his visit to the Kingdom in Autumn 2022 and how the Mission could ensure the continuation of the generous support to IOFS on the part of Saudi Arabia.
The Director General also consulted with Her Excellency Dr. Afnan Alshuhaiby, the Executive Director of the Women Development Organization (WDO), on potential joint projects on women involvement in ensuring food security and developing rural agriculture. The main idea is how to sustainably advance the WDO’s women agenda within the IOFS Strategic Vision 2031.
It should be mentioned that during his active participation at the 45th ICECS, the IOFS Director General was assisted by Mr. Abdula Manafi Mutualo, Advisor at the Cooperation & Coordination Department.