The first Working Group on cooperation between the UN and Regional Organizations, convened in August 1994, has its roots in the UNSC, which in January 1993 invited “within the framework of Chapter VIII of the UN Charter, regional arrangements and organizations to study, on a priority basis, ways and means to strengthen their functions to maintain international peace and security within their areas of competence, paying due regard to the characteristics of their respective regions” and “ways and means to further improve coordination of their efforts with those of the UN”.

Additionally, the UNGA in its resolution 48/42, welcomed the efforts of the UNSG to develop a set of guidelines governing cooperation between the UN and regional organizations, while the UNSC expressed its wish that the prospects for such cooperation be studies together. Legal provision for regional arrangements can be found in chapter VIII of the UN Charter where articles 52, 53 and 54 not only provide for the existence of regional arrangements, but also affirm their compatibility with the UN and regulate their reciprocal functions, especially in the arena of peace-keeping. Consequently as early as 1994, the UNSG called for a greater role for regional entities in the peaceful settlement of disputes, peace-keeping in the broad sense of the term and the possible implementation of coercive measures.

Cooperation between the UN and OIC in particular took of pursuant to UNGA Resolutions 50/17 of 28 November 1995 and 59/8 of 16 January 2003 with a general meting on cooperation between representatives of the secretariats of the UN and OIC from 11-13 July 2006. Joint OIC-UN cooperation was approached from the perspective of four principal thematic areas: political issues – particularly assistance to refugees; economic issues – particularly trade, development, food security, agriculture, investment mechanisms and joint ventures; socio-cultural issues – particularly education, eradication of illiteracy, environment, health, population, development of art, craft and the promotion of heritage; and science and technology development issues - particularly human resource development and technical cooperation among Islamic countries.

The OIC-UN Coordination meeting welcomed increased political contact between the Secretaries-General of the two organizations and agreed to pursue a coordination meeting in 2007 to follow-up on decisions and recommendations and review ongoing activities. It was also agreed to exchange project proposals a year in advance and for subsequent meetings to begin with the presentation of a report on activities undertaken since the previous meeting. 

To activate greater and more effective OIC-UN coordination, it may be noteworthy to highlight some of the fundamental suggestions placed forward by ICCI :

1. Given that the UN Charter encourages activities through regional cooperation, deepening relations between the lead agencies of the UN System and the OIC and its institutions through high level contacts and regular consultations give greater value to OIC-UN coordination meetings and strengthen cooperation.

2. In order to materialize the coordination meeting’s agreements and yield tangible results, focal points from both sides should be kept informed on the status of discussions and all observations should be forwarded to them for review. Additionally focal points should systematically follow-up on negotiations pertaining to the implementation of joint projects. Such meetings among focal points also serve to multiply contacts between the two entities.

3. Given that the lack of financial resources continue to be a major impediments in implementing joint programs that are agreed upon during OIC-UN coordination meetings, the aspect of funding sources and alternatives need to be reviewed.

4. Programs and projects discussed in the OIC-UN coordination meeting should be included in the 2-year work program and budgets of both parties. The cost should be shared in a tripartite arrangement between UN Agencies, OIC Institutions and the Islamic Development Bank in order to ensure the implementation of the agreed projects.



The prospects for mutually beneficial OIC-UN cooperation lie in the multitude of arenas where the OIC’s 10-Year Programme of Action (POA) complement the UN’s MDGs.

MDG # 1 calls for the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger and targets halving by 2015, both the proportion of people suffering from hunger and well as those with incomes less than $1 a day. To this end, POA 2.II.1 established a special poverty alleviation fund within the IDB which has already raised over $1.3 billion dollars and intends to raise nearly $10 billion by the time implementation begins. Additionally POA 2.IV.2 has called upon Member States to participate in international efforts to support programs aimed at alleviating poverty and capacity-building in OIC LDC’s. 

MDG # 2 calls for achieving universal primary education and targets that by 2015, all children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to a complete a course of primary schooling. In this context POA 2.VI.4 calls for striving to provide free and quality basic education for all children, while POA 2.VI.7 calls upon member states to support and promote youth programs and youth forums.

MDG # 3 calls for “promoting gender equality and empowering women”. In this regard, POA 2.VI.1 calls for strengthening laws aimed at enhancing the advancement of women in Muslim societies in the economic, cultural, social and political fields, in accordance with Muslim values of justice and equality. The POA additionally stipulates that laws aimed at protecting women from all forms of violence and discrimination should also be enhanced as should laws adhering to the provisions of the UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

Additionally POA 2.VI.6 encourages member States to sign and ratify the CEDAW and its Optional Protocol with regards to the Girl Child. The elimination of gender disparity in primary and secondary education by 2005, and in all levels of education by 2015 is the primary target of MDG # 3. In line with these targets, POA 2.VI.2 calls for directing special attention to women’s education and female literacy while POA 2.V.1 calls for effectively improving and reforming educational institutions and curricula at all levels, linking postgraduate studies to development plans, facilitating academic interaction and exchange of knowledge and promoting creativity, innovation, research and development. ISESCO has undertaken 19 projects and activities in this regard from 2006-7.

MDG # 4 calls for reducing child mortality and targets reducing the under-five mortality rate by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015. In this regard POA 2.VI.5 has called for strengthened laws to improve children’s health to the highest possible levels, eradicate poliomyelitis through the promotion of effective measures, preserve the rights of children and protect them from all forms of violence and exploitation. Additionally, POA 2.VI.6 encourages all Member States to sign and ratify the OIC Covenant on the Rights of the Child in Islam, the UN Declaration on the Rights of the Child in Islam and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and its annexed Optional Protocols.

MDG # 6 calls for “combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases” with targets to halt and reverse their spread by 2015. To this end, POA 2.II.2 has mandated the IDB and OIC to coordinate in developing the necessary contacts with the World Health Organization (WHO) in effectively channeling the multi-billion dollar poverty alleviation fund to develop programs to combat disease and epidemics.
 
MDG # 7 calls for “Ensuring environmental sustainability” and targets integrating the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programs, reversing the loss of environmental resources and halving the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation by 2010. In conformity with these targets and to balance economic development with environmental sustainability, POA 2.I.7 calls for OIC Member States to coordinate their environmental policies and positions in the international environmental fora such as to prevent any adverse effects on economic development.

MDG # 8 calls for “Developing a Global Partnership for Development” and the first target is the advancement of an open, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory trading and financial system as well as a commitment to good governance, development and poverty reduction at the national and international level. To this end, POA 2.I.2 mandates COMCEC to promote measures to expand the scope of intra-OIC trade and explore the possibility of establishing a Free Trade Area between Member States such as to increase to 20% the overall trade volume. Consequently, the ICCI has sought the assistance to the World Bank, UNCTAD and UNIDO to establish an International Islamic Company for investment and intra-OIC trade.

POA 2.II.5 also urges the IDB and its institutions to promote investment opportunities and intra-OIC trade and conduct feasibility studies to provide necessary information to develop and promote joint ventures. Additionally, POA 2.III.1 advocates the development and adoption by Muslim States of a clear strategy on Islamic relief action and supports the trend towards cooperation and coordination between individual relief efforts of Islamic states and civil society institutions on the one hand, and international civil society institutions and organizations on the other hand.

Target 2 of MDG # 8 calls for addressing the special needs of LDCs, particularly through tariff-and-quota free access for exports, enhanced program of debt relief for HIPCs, cancellation of official bilateral debt and increased Official Development Assistance for countries committed to poverty reduction. In this regard, POA 2.II.3 has commissioned the IDB Board of Governors to take necessary measures to ensure a substantial increase in the Bank’s authorized, subscribed and paid-up capital, to enable it strengthen its role in providing financial support and technical assistance to OIC Member States, and strengthen the Islamic Corporation for trade Finance recently established within the IDB.

Additionally POA 2.IV.4 seeks contribution to the World Fund for Solidarity and Combating Poverty and pursues international specialized institutions and organizations to exert greater efforts to alleviate poverty in LDC Member States, assist refugees and the displaced in OIC Member States and Muslim minorities and communities in non-OIC Member States. 

Target 4 of MDG # 8 calls for dealing comprehensively with the debt problems of developing countries through national and international measures in order to make debt sustainable in the long term. Accordingly, POA 2.IV.3 urges donor Member States to cancel bilateral and multilateral debts to low-income Member States.

Target 7 of MDG # 8 calls for promoting cooperation with the private sector to make available the benefits of new technologies, particularly ICT. A number of action plans are being pursued in this regard including:

a) POA 2.V.5 calling for measures to close the digital gap between developed and developing states. In this regard, ISESCO has undertaken 7 projects while IUT has developed partnerships with UNESCO and ITU.
b) POA 2.V.6 calling for public and private national research institutions to invest in technology capacity-building. To this end, IUT has developed a partnership with UNIDO. c) POA 2.I.5 promoting the freedom of businessmen & investors to move across borders.
d) POA 2.II.4 urging the IDB to streamline and activate its decision-making processes and develop mechanisms and programs to promote cooperation with the private sector.
e) POA 2.IV.1 advancing economic and social development in African countries through support to programs that promote industrialization, trade, investment, technology transfer and the New Economic Partnership for African Development.



1. Political Issues

A) Capacity Building on Human Rights & Other Issues: UN has reached an understanding to provide capacity building support to the OIC General Secretariat in human rights, electoral assistance, peace-building, peace-keeping, disarmament, terrorism, human trafficking, refugees, drug trafficking, organized crime and early warning. In this regard, OIC and OHCHR  have finalized a draft agreement prepared by OHCHR to assist the General Secretariat in building its capacity in the human rights area. Additionally, UNHCR has organized training workshops and seminars on human rights and refugees respectively. However greater support from a variety of UN agencies is needed in developing the OIC capacity, particularly in electoral assistance and peace-building.

B) Participation in Inter-Agency Missions: OIC and the UN have agreed to improve coordination through OIC’s participation in inter-agency missions. In this regard OIC Missions visited Sudan (6/2004) and Darfur (5/2005) respectively upon the request of the UNSG and the Horn of African in collaboration with the WFP .

C) Secretariat-level Staff Exchange:  OIC & UN have agreed upon staff exchange at the directorial and desk officer level on an annual basis. In this regard two staff members from the OIC secretariat will participate in the first exchange in 2007. However, it would be also be beneficial to send OIC staff members to train in specialized UN agencies on issues that significantly impact upon OIC Member States, particularly in drug trafficking, human trafficking, terrorism, peace-building and refugees.

D) Consultative Meetings with DPA : While it has been agreed to hold Consultative Meetings between DPA and the UN Mission to NY no less than three times a year, however steps should be taken by DPA to clarify and promote the legal basis for the OIC’s participation in UN activities, particularly in the political arena, as the UN Charter currently makes no provisions for the role of inter-governmental organizations.

E) Technical Assistance Cooperation with UNODC: OIC General Secretariat and requesting OIC Member States will receive capacity building and technical assistance on universal legal instruments governing the fight against terrorism, transnational organized crime, corruption, drug and human trafficking and border control measures. In this regard, UNODC organized a counter-terrorism workshop for the OIC in Jeddah 2006. However, greater impetus must be placed on UNODC to augment the number of country and regional level workshops in the OIC Member States on the aforementioned topics.

2. Women’s Empowerment and Mainstreaming

A) ISESCO  and UNESCO  Cooperation on Women in S&T: The two entities agreed to establish ISESCO-UNESCO chairs for women in science. Accomplishments in this regard include an international conference and report on the status of women in the field of science (ISESCO Headquarters, 2005), inaugural Conference of the Arab Network of Women Scientists and the promotion of gender in S&T.

B) IDB, ISESCO & UNIDO Cooperation on Women Entrepreneurs: The three agencies discussed options for supporting and funding pilot centers in Iran specializing in entrepreneurship development, training and advisory services. Their primary role would be to support women and young entrepreneurs in employment creation and poverty alleviation. In this regard specific activities are currently being studied. However such initiatives are relevant in all OIC Member States given that women entrepreneurs trail their male counterparts both in number and effectiveness. Consequently the IDB must seek to emulate such activities through concrete actions plans in other OIC member States taking into account country specific contexts.

3. Science and Technology (S&T)

A) ISESCO and UNESCO Cooperation in S&T: 108 activities with a global budget of more that US $13 million have been undertaken by the two entities since 2004. Relevant initiatives include the implementation of the NEPAD  ministerial committee meetings and infrastructure assistance in conflict zones including rebuilding science and technology in higher education research in Iraq. Accomplishment in this regard include an international conference and report on the status of women in the field of science (ISESCO Headquarters, 2005), inaugural Conference of the Arab Network of Women Scientists and the promotion of gender in S&T.

B) ISESCO and WMO Cooperation on Climate, Agriculture and Disasters: Projects undertaken by the two entities include training seminars and courses on climate data management, environmental monitoring, natural disaster prevention and mitigation including flood forecasting and climate prediction for the management of agriculture. However greater cooperation is needed between these entities in monitoring and comprehensively assessing the impacts and threats of Global Warming on OIC Member States.

4. Trade and Development

A) ICDT  & UNCTAD  Cooperation IN Trade Negotiation:
Agreements between the two entities include technical assistance by UNCTAD in the field of multilateral trade negotiation, studies on products with high trading potential among OIC Member States and capacity building in e-tourism. However substantive assistance in the aforementioned areas has so far been limited to visits by individual experts.

B) ICDT & ITU  Cooperation in e-government: Cooperation between the two entities through participation in specialized exhibitions and workshops on ICT and symposiums on e-government have been proposed; however concrete action in this regard is yet to be taken although the topic remains as relevant as ever.

C) ICDT & UNIDO  Cooperation: The two entities have agreed to identify joint studies and surveys related to trade investment and organize regional seminars on technical barriers to trade. In this regard a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was finalized between the two entities defining areas, ways and means of cooperation. However substantive action with regards to the aforementioned agreements has yet to be defined or has been postponed.

D) IDB , ISESCO & UNIDO Cooperation: The three entities have agreed to cooperate on assisting the productive sectors of OIC Member States in securing market access in line with UNIDO’s trade capacity building initiative and develop a joint long term strategic approach to service OIC Member States. In this regard forums and projects have been undertaken to enhance the efficiency and competitiveness of OIC cotton producing countries, particularly in Africa. Additionally, UNIDO and IDB (through ICIEC) are coordinating to create a Multi-Agency Cooperation Program in the field of Investment Promotion. IDB and UNIDO have also developed an MoU for cooperation in institutional capacity building, investment promotion activities and country needs, sectoral and project assessment.

E) IDB & UNCTAD Cooperation: UNCTAD’s Technical Assistance Program pertaining to WTO matters will aid the IDB to be more responsive to the developmental needs of member states. Additionally cooperation will be sought in the areas including ICT for development, trade facilitation and technology transfer. In this regard focal points have been identified and informal consultations have taken place. However reports should be presented outlining the current status of any initiatives that have been undertaken.

5. Technical Cooperation

A) UNIDO & SESRTCIC Cooperation on SMEs: The two entities agreed on joint technical cooperation activities on technology transfer and investment tools for Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) as well as capacity building on institutional service delivery. However concrete steps in this regard are yet to be undertaken. Capacity building for SMEs is particularly important for OIC LDC’s where large scale enterprises are few and far between and unable to meet demand, Consequently SMEs, should their capacities be sufficiently developed, can play a major role in meeting job creation needs and domestic demand in these countries. 

B) OIC & UNIDO Assistance to NEPAP & SMEs: The two entities agreed to organize workshops, conferences and technical cooperation activities targeting the harmonization of industrial development strategies in OIC Member States, assisting NEPAD in developing the productive capacity of SMEs through awareness of new approaches and the promotion of an entrepreneurial culture cognizant of the segmentation of the productions network system at the global and national level.

C) ISESCO & ITU Support to Conflict Regions: Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan will receive support in the areas of tele-education, distance learning, support to electronic infrastructures and development of human resources.