IOFS Given New Mandates to be Approved by 51st Council of Foreign Ministers

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - 15-17 April 2025 – Upon instructions of His Excellency Ambassador Berik Aryn, the Director General of the Islamic Organization of Food Security (IOFS), Mr. Abdula Manafi Mutualo, Chief Multilateral Relations Officer, represented the Organization at the 47th Islamic Commission for Economic, Cultural & Social Affairs (ICECS), which was hosted by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation ( OIC ) General Secretariat in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The ICECS gathered to prepare relevant resolutions in the designated fields for approved by the 51st Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) slated for 20-21 June next at Istanbul, Republic of Türkiye.

Among the new mandates that will be provided by the 51st CFM, to IOFS is requested to strengthen intra-OIC food trade and agribusiness though holding appropriate initiatives in this context, as well as to develop and implement comprehensive programs focused on enhancing food security and sustainable livelihoods for refugees within OIC Member States by coordinating resources, partnerships with relevant OIC, international and regional organizations, while promoting innovative solutions to ensure access to nutritious food and economic opportunities for refugee populations.

Additionally, the United Arab Emirates officially commended the pivotal role of the IOFS as an institutional partner of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment of the United Arab Emirates (MoCCaE UAE) in the successful holding of the 1st Edition of Global Food Security Summit (GFSS), which was held as part of the Abu Dhabi Global Food Week on 26-27 November 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and invited the Member States and relevant OIC Institutions to actively participate and contribute for the fruitful convening of the 2nd Edition of the GFSS to be held in Abu Dhabi on 21-23 October 2025.

It is important to note that the new mandates are included with improved call for the IOFS to continue its important work with its flagship programs, including the Afghanistan Food Security Program (AFSP) and Africa Food Security Initiative (AFSI).