Jeddah, 11 December 2025 - The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) hosted the celebration of OIC Food Security Day – IOFS Day at the OIC General Secretariat in Jeddah organized by the Islamic Organisation for Food Security (IOFS), commemorated OIC Food Security. The date, designated by the 50th Council of Foreign Ministers, marks the establishment of IOFS on 11 December 2013 when 19 Member States signed its Statute during the 40th CFM in Conakry. The commemoration reaffirmed the OIC’s collective commitment to strengthening food security, agricultural resilience, and inclusive development across the Muslim world.
The session was chaired by H.E. Dr. Masoud Jarallah AlMarri, Chairman of the IOFS Executive Board from the State of Qatar.
H.E. Mr. Hissein Brahim Taha, OIC Secretary General, welcomed the participants, after which H.E. Ambassador Dr. Ahmad Kawesa Sengendo, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Affairs, delivered opening remarks on his behalf. He emphasized that food security remains fundamental to the OIC’s peace and development agenda and commended IOFS for its expanding portfolio of field-oriented programmes serving Member States.
The Director General of IOFS, H.E. Ambassador Berik Aryn delivered his statement, expressing gratitude to the OIC General Secretariat for hosting the commemoration alongside the Annual Coordination Meeting of OIC Institutions. He outlined the complex food security challenges affecting OIC countries – including climate change, water scarcity, supply chain disruptions, conflict, and humanitarian emergencies – and highlighted IOFS’s contributions through key initiatives such as the Afghanistan Food Security Programme, the Flour for Humanity – Gaza Emergency Appeal, and the Africa Food Security Initiative. He reiterated that rural women and youth must remain central to transforming food systems and encouraged deeper engagement from IOFS Member States, including accession by those not yet part of the Organisation.
The opening segment also featured remarks by H.E. Ambassador Mambury Njie, Permanent Representative of The Gambia to the OIC in its capacity as Chair of the 15th Islamic Summit, and H.E. Ambassador Cenk Uraz, Permanent Representative of Türkiye to the OIC and Chair of the 51st CFM, both reaffirming their countries’ commitment to advancing food security cooperation within the OIC framework.
The programme continued with a panel discussion on “Strengthening OIC Food Systems through the Leadership of Rural Women and Youth,” moderated by IOFS Chief Multilateral Relations Officer, Mr. Abdula Manafi Mutual. The session brought together representatives from SESRIC, the Islamic Development Bank, SMIIC, ICCD, and the IOFS Secretariat. Discussions underscored the indispensable role of rural women and youth as drivers of innovation, productivity, and resilience, while emphasizing the need for targeted support, enhanced access to resources, and stronger OIC-wide cooperation.
A key highlight of the commemoration was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between IOFS Director General Ambassador Berik Aryn and the OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) Executive Director, Dr. Hadi Ali Alyami. The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation in promoting the right to food, empowering women in agriculture, advancing sustainable and climate-resilient farming practices, and integrating human rights principles into food security initiatives across OIC Member States.
In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Aryn expressed deep appreciation to the OIC leadership, Member States, and institutional partners for their continued collaboration, noting that enhanced financial and technical support will be essential to scale up IOFS’s transformative programmes in the years ahead. The ceremony concluded with the unveiling of a photo exhibition celebrating Women AgriLeaders across the OIC geography, honouring their vital contributions to food systems, rural livelihoods, and sustainable development.
The commemorations in Jeddah reaffirmed the shared aspiration of OIC Member States to build a more food-secure, equitable, and prosperous future for all communities across the Muslim world.
