Riyadh, April 30, 2024, The Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD) and the UNIDO Arab International Regional Centre for Entrepreneurship and Investment (AICEI) recently formalized a partnership through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU). This collaboration aims to foster economic empowerment and social development within the member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The MoU, signed by ISFD Director General Dr. Hiba Ahmed and AICEI Board of Trustees Chairman Sheikh Ibrahim bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, took place during the sidelines of the IsDB Annual Meetings held in Riyadh from April 27 to 30.
Central to this agreement is the joint commitment of both entities to work towards achieving sustainable development goals, with a particular emphasis on advancing economic empowerment for women and youth populations. The framework outlined in the MoU encompasses several key areas of collaboration:
1. Women's Economic Empowerment and Poverty Alleviation: Developing strategies and initiatives aimed at empowering women economically and addressing poverty challenges.
2. Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Security: Empowering women and youth through initiatives focused on climate-smart agriculture practices and bolstering food security.
3. Support for Vulnerable Groups and People with Disabilities: Providing targeted support and resources for vulnerable populations and individuals with disabilities.
4. Smart Cities Development: Encouraging the development of smart cities to foster social entrepreneurship, drive digital transformation across sectors like industry, healthcare, and education, promote innovation, and integrate life skills education within educational institutions.
By formalizing this partnership, ISFD and AICEI aim to leverage their combined expertise and resources to implement impactful projects and initiatives that contribute to the overall socio-economic development and well-being of OIC member countries.
