Astana, Kazakhstan | 3 July 2026 – The Islamic Organisation for Food Security (IOFS) welcomed a delegation from UN Women to its Headquarters in Astana to discuss avenues for strengthening institutional cooperation and advancing joint initiatives of mutual interest.
The UN Women delegation comprised Dr. Ceren Guven Gures, Representative of UN Women in Kazakhstan, Mr. Andreas Brox, Partnership Analyst from the UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, and Ms. Akmaral Yeskarayeva, Project Manager.
The delegation was received by Ms. Makpal Bulatova, Project Manager, Mr. Sofian Ben Moadded, Chief Bilateral Relations Officer, and Mr. Abdula Manafi Mutualo, Chief Multilateral Relations Officer, on behalf of the IOFS Secretariat.
The meeting focused on the reactivation and operationalization of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two Organisations in May 2025, with discussions exploring opportunities for enhanced collaboration in areas of common interest. Particular emphasis was placed on the development of joint programmes that promote sustainable development, food security, women's empowerment, and inclusive rural development, especially in support of the two Organizations' common Member States in Central Asia.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening institutional partnership and expressed their readiness to identify concrete areas of cooperation that leverage the comparative advantages of each organisation in delivering tangible benefits to their Member States.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to maintain close consultations and advance the implementation of collaborative initiatives under the existing partnership framework.
