Turkistan, Republic of Kazakhstan – 6 May 2025 - The Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), a specialized institution of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), convened the 14th Meeting of its Executive Board in Turkistan, Kazakhstan—a city revered for its spiritual and cultural significance in the Islamic world. The high-level session gathered senior officials from Member States, key department heads, and the IOFS Secretariat to review strategic priorities and institutional matters shaping the Organization’s trajectory in 2025 and beyond.
The Executive Board Members included the Chairman - Dr. Masoud Jarallah Al-Marri from the State of Qatar, Honorary Chairman – Eng. Abdulaziz A. Alhowaish from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Ambassador Alibek Bakayev, Mr. Amir Mohyuddin from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Mr. Mohammed Saeed Sultan Al Nuaimi from the United Arab Emirates, Mr. Musa M. Humma from the Republic of The Gambia, Ms. Nigina Anvar from the Republic of Tajikistan, Mr. Maina Hamadou from the Republic of Cameroon, and Mr. Hamad Al-Marri from the State of Qatar.
The meeting was officially opened by Dr. Masoud Jarallah Al-Marri, Chairman of the IOFS Executive Board. Delegates then discussed and adopted the meeting agenda before proceeding to the report of the IOFS Director General, Ambassador Berik Aryn.
In his opening remarks, the Director General extended warm appreciation to the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Akimat of Turkistan for their continued support and generous hospitality. He emphasized the symbolic significance of convening the Executive Board in Turkistan and underscored the Organization’s evolving role as a results-oriented platform that integrates policy, programming, and partnerships in the service of food security across OIC Member States.
The Director General’s report reviewed the Organization’s major accomplishments over the past period. These included the continuation of humanitarian operations in Afghanistan through Phase II of the Afghanistan Food Security Programme, the Flour for Humanity initiative for Gaza, and IOFS’s involvement in the co-organization of the Global Food Security Summit, in collaboration with international partners in Abu Dhabi. He highlighted the launch of the Africa Food Security Initiative, now under implementation in selected pilot countries, as well as IOFS’s central role in leading the development of the OIC Strategic Food Security Programme (SFSP)—a framework aimed at enhancing regional coordination, policy coherence, and collective resilience.
The Director General further emphasized IOFS’s strengthened cooperation with global institutions and regional stakeholders, alongside a growing portfolio of initiatives focused on food systems resilience, agricultural transformation, and capacity building across the OIC geography.
The report further reflected IOFS’s active role in promoting cooperation in the OIC region, particularly through regional projects in Central Asia, the Sahel, and Sub-Saharan Africa. This included technical support missions, capacity-building workshops, and national food systems dialogues conducted in partnership with FAO, WFP, ICBA, and other international actors.
Looking ahead, the Director General introduced a number of institutional proposals, including preparations for the upcoming 7th General Assembly, adoption of the new IOFS logo and flag, IOFS Award, new proposed periodicity of the General Assembly sessions, a midterm review of the IOFS Strategic Vision 2031, and the potential establishement of an IOFS Genebank.
Following the Director General’s presentation, the IOFS Secretariat delivered comprehensive departmental reports, providing updates on core activities related to program implementation, project development, legal affairs, and financial operations. These reports reflected the Secretariat’s commitment to institutional effectiveness, transparency, and service to Member States.
Board Members then engaged in constructive and active deliberations on the Organization’s ongoing work and future trajectory. Among the topics raised was a proposal by the host country to dedicate future IOFS programs to empowering youth and women in agriculture, in alignment with broader efforts to ensure inclusive and sustainable development.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to multilateral collaboration, Member State ownership, and shared responsibility in addressing the food security needs of the OIC region. In accordance with IOFS procedures, the official Executive Board Report will be circulated among Members for formal adoption. Following the productive sessions, participants also had the opportunity to explore the cultural heritage of Turkistan through visits to its historical landmarks, including the city’s museum complex and the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi.
