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| ISESCO | |
|---|---|
| Name | ISESCO |
| Type | Intergovernmental organization |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Headquarters | Rabat, Morocco |
| Region served | Member States of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation |
| Languages | Arabic, English, French |
ISESCO is an intergovernmental cultural and educational organization founded in 1981 to promote cooperation among member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. It develops programs in UNESCO-related fields including cultural heritage, scientific research, and literacy, and works alongside international institutions such as the United Nations, World Bank, and European Union. Headquartered in Rabat, the organization maintains regional and national offices across Riyadh, Jakarta, Ankara, and Dakar to coordinate initiatives with ministries, universities, and civil society groups including the Arab League, African Union, and Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.
The organization was established following resolutions adopted at summits of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference in the late 1970s and early 1980s, emerging from diplomatic discussions involving states such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, Morocco, and Pakistan. Early collaboration drew on precedents from entities like UNESCO, the International Labour Organization, and the World Health Organization to build capacity in member capitals including Riyadh, Doha, Abu Dhabi, and Kuwait City. Over successive directorates, the organization expanded partnerships with universities such as Al-Azhar University, University of Jordan, Cairo University, and research centers like the King Faisal Center for Research and the Qatar Foundation. Major milestones include cultural heritage projects tied to sites recognized by UNESCO World Heritage Centre and science initiatives paralleling programs of the International Science Council and Global Partnership for Education.
The mandate emphasizes preservation of Islamic cultural heritage, promotion of scientific and technological cooperation, and enhancement of literacy and education across member states including Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Senegal. Objectives align with international frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals promoted by the United Nations Development Programme and with regional strategies of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization. The mission prioritizes collaboration with higher-education institutions like King Saud University, American University of Beirut, University of Khartoum, and research funders such as the Islamic Development Bank and OPEC Fund for International Development.
Governance is led by a General Conference composed of ministers from member states including delegations from Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Yemen, and an Executive Council modeled after councils in organizations like the European Commission and the African Union Commission. Administrative leadership includes a Director General elected by member states, supported by departments mirroring counterparts at UNESCO and the World Bank Group for finance, culture, and science. The Secretariat maintains liaison offices and technical committees linking with national bodies such as ministries in Rabat, Kuala Lumpur, Dhaka, and Ankara, and works with international agencies including UNFPA, UNICEF, and WHO.
Programs span cultural heritage protection (in coordination with the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and the International Council on Monuments and Sites), literacy campaigns modeled on initiatives by Room to Read and World Literacy Foundation, teacher-training partnerships with universities like University of Malaya and Cairo University, and science grants similar to those administered by the Wellcome Trust and European Research Council. Activities include conferences linking scholars from Al-Quds University, Sultan Qaboos University, and University of Khartoum, publishing scholarly journals and reports parallel to outputs by the International Journal of Middle East Studies, and executing youth programs comparable to the Commonwealth Youth Programme and the United Nations Volunteers.
Membership comprises states that are members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, including populous countries such as Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt, Nigeria, and Bangladesh', as well as smaller states like Bahrain, Brunei, and Comoros. Funding derives from assessed contributions by member states, voluntary contributions from sovereign donors such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates, and project-specific grants from multilateral funders including the World Bank, Islamic Development Bank, and philanthropic foundations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in joint initiatives.
The organization maintains formal and informal partnerships with major international institutions including UNESCO, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, World Bank Group, European Union External Action Service, and regional bodies like the African Union and Arab League. It cooperates with universities such as Al-Azhar University, King Abdulaziz University, and Boğaziçi University, research networks like the International Association of Universities, and NGOs including Save the Children, Islamic Relief, and Red Crescent societies to implement programs.
Critics have raised concerns about governance transparency, budgetary accountability, and political influence from major donors such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar, echoing debates seen in other multilateral agencies like UNESCO and World Health Organization. Human-rights organizations including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have at times questioned program priorities and selection criteria for projects in member states such as Sudan and Syria. Academic commentators from institutions like SOAS University of London and Georgetown University have debated the organization's balance between cultural diplomacy and technical capacity-building, drawing parallels with the politicization controversies encountered by the United Nations system.
Category:International cultural organizations Category:Intergovernmental organizations