The Center for Mediterranean Integration and the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization set forth the framework of their cooperation at the 36th Session of the UNESCO General Conference

The Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI) and the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) met at the ninth Coordination Meeting of the Heads of Delegation of ISESCO Member States to the 36th Session of the UNESCO General Conference in Paris on October 27, 2011. 

It was a great opportunity for Dr. Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, Director General of ISESCO and Mats Karlsson, Director of the CMI to sign and present the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and establish structural technical cooperation.

The purpose of this MoU is to develop through a knowledge sharing and joint learning approach a technical partnership in the following selected areas of common interest:

•  Environment and Water and possibly other fields in the sector of sustainable development;
•  Skills, employment and labour mobility;
• Knowledge Economy, with a special focus on innovation and technology;
• Higher Education;
• Migration issues;
• Culture and Communication;
• Urban and spatial Development.

In order to make their partnership operational, ISESCO and the CMI, with other partners, will work closely on developing a report on Knowledge Economy (KE) for Growth and Employment in the MENA Region. This report will aim to inform key policymakers and other stakeholders from the region on the importance of using a KE approach as a key element in any government’s long-term strategy to foster growth and create employment.

Other key issues such as environment and/or cities and climate change could also open the way to specific joint activities in 2012, especially in preparation of the next World Water Foum to be held in Marseille in March 2012.


More information:

• Pictures of the signature of the MoU