Astana, 12 October 2022 (TDI): Representatives from Islamic Organisation for Food Security(IOFS) briefed the media on the outcomes of the 5th IOFS General Assembly in Astana.
The 5th General Assembly of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) was successfully concluded online on 10-11 October 2022 in Tunis, Republic of Tunisia, under the theme: “Partnerships for Sustainable Food Security: Africa within OIC Geography”.
The key speakers of the briefing were Dr.Ismail Abdelhamid, Director of the Programmes and Project Office, Ambassador Daulet Yemberdiyev, Director of the International Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid Office, and Ambassador Murat Tashibayev, Advisor to the Director General of IOFS.
Journalists from around the world and Pakistan were present at the occasion. The speakers shared that the 5th General Assembly of IOFS represents the central theme that Africa is lagging in achieving SDG related to ending hunger and ensuring sufficient food for the continent’s people.
In addition, the number of starving people in Africa has risen by 47.9 million since 2014 and now stands at 250.3 million, or nearly one-fifth of the population.
IOFS has also declared 2022 as the Year of Africa, focusing on supporting and working with the African governments to promote the agricultural landscape. At IOFS, African food security is believed to be attained if Member States work together at the international, regional, and national institutional levels.
The IOFS calls for “Commitment to act jointly towards concrete results for improving food systems in Africa” and build the resilience of relevant food markets, supply chains, and infrastructure.
Proceedings and Outcomes of the 5th General Assembly of IOFS
The 5th General Assembly of IOFS was held on 10 October 2022 in Tunisia, where senior officials from various member states participated.
During the meeting, along with the administration-related matters, including the program overview, a yearly report by DG, financial topics, membership, and overall strategic programs, the panel discussed the progress of the IOFS programs in Afghanistan and Africa issues. In the end, a resolution was adopted.
Main outcomes of the IOFS 5th General Assembly
The Member States adopted essential programs at the meeting to further develop agriculture and address food insecurity, particularly in Africa.
These programs included OIC Food Security Reserve System (FSRs) that was envisioned in 1981. The IOFS Secretariat, following a corresponding research study, proposes the establishment of six regional Food Reserves.
Then another important program is the Grain Fund. This program is based on increasing intra-OIC economic cooperation, particularly in agricultural development and food security, with an emphasis on funding and grain supply.
International Islamic Food Processing Association (IFPA) is to be given an additional impetus to advance Pillar 4 of the IOFS Strategic Vision 2031, which is devoted to OIC Food Industry Development, basically the foundation of the relationship between the IOFS and Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs).
The Sheep Farming Fund is an investment project focused on establishing value chains and shall provide sustainable intra-OIC supplies of top-quality meat.
IOFS shall facilitate financing from institutional investors of OIC Member States with the support of member countries’ IPAs. This commodity fund is to be replicated upon successful implementation in other OIC countries, such as Somalia, Sudan, etc.
Annual IOFS Civil Society Forum, as Article 07 of the IOFS Statute, provides the mandate of establishing closer collaboration with any non-governmental regional and international organizations concerned with agriculture, rural development, and food security.
The 5GA provided the ground for the IOFS to initiate an Annual Civil Society Forum in close strict collaboration and coordination with the Member States.
IOFS Center for Plant and Animal Genetic Resources, bearing in mind that numerous and diverse conflicts around the world are among the leading causes for the destruction of important food security and agricultural development infrastructures, the IOFS is to establish the Center to consolidate joint efforts and the importance of selecting the storage facility of agricultural genetic resources within the OIC geography.
The Center is to be established with the kind support of the Member States and relevant OIC Institutions and is to be located here in Kazakhstan.
During the meeting, it was decided that the Republic of Kazakhstan, as the hosting country of the IOFS, the Republic of The Gambia, representing the African Group, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, representing the African Group, The State of Qatar, representing the Arab Group, The United Arab Emirates, representing the Arab Group, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, representing the Asia Group, The Republic of Tajikistan, representing the Asia Group and
The press briefing session was attended by many Journalists from around the world, including Pakistan. The Diplomatic Insight is represented by Muhammad Asif Noor, Editor In Chief of the publication.
Islamic Organization for Food Security
The IOFS is a specialized OIC institution responsible for ensuring sustainable food security within OIC territory through socioeconomic development and the methodical promotion of targeted programs.
These programs are related to humanitarian aid, science and technology, agriculture, trade in food, and investment between the OIC Member States.
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