UN and OIC Secretariats meet in Astana

The United Nations (UN) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) are set to strengthen cooperation through the establishment of a permanent joint task force and integrated data and information-sharing systems. These and other initiatives aimed at expanding partnership and coordination in various areas were discussed at the 16th Biennial General Cooperation Meeting in Astana.

«We are here to see how we can cooperate together in the areas of common interests, in the common member states of the two organizations, to work on issues that affect humanity, going from peace to climate change and development issues, fighting poverty and extremism and all other challenges. We have several institutions in both organizations, and the institutions from our different organizations working in specific domains meet every two years to work out joint activities aimed at common interests of building a better world and creating peace and sustainable development,» said Ahmad Kawesa Sengendo, OIC Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Affairs.

An important aspect of the cooperation between the UN and the OIC is addressing contemporary threats and challenges faced by the member states. A special role is given to food security issues, which the countries intend to tackle together. To this end, the parties signed a joint memorandum of understanding on the sidelines of the meeting.

«This document is to materialize the excellent bilateral cooperation that already exists between the two organizations. But it’s important then to have a document signed, which will guide us how to move forward in terms of our cooperation. We are looking forward to issues related with capacity building, country based approach, where there are nine-ten countries that have agreed that the two organizations will discuss how to work together. And Kazakhstan is one of the countries that is chosen. Some of the countries are in Africa, including Gambia, Djibouti, Somalia, and also some are here in Central Asia, Tajikistan, Afghanistan,» noted Abdula Manafi Mutualo, Chief Multilateral Affairs Officer at the Islamic Organization for Food Security.