WFP and ISESCO sign historic agreement on cooperation

More specifically, the two organizations will work together on poverty reduction with a focus on children, education and gender equity. The cooperation will include training, workshops as well as the exchange of expertise and information.

"This is an historic moment for both organizations which are striving to improve the livelihoods of vulnerable people around the world," said Amir Abdulla, WFP's regional director for the Middle East, Central Asia and Eastern Europe, after the signing ceremony in Rabat.

"Unfortunately, a number of hotspots today are located in the Islamic world and have an enormous negative impact on the people living there. In working together, our two organizations can help them to rebuild their lives," he added.

WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency and in 2004 provided assistance to 113 million people in 80 countries, including 56 million children. More than half of the total number of WFP beneficiaries are in the Islamic world.

The Kingdom of Morocco has been one of the largest recipients of WFP assistance, receiving between 1964 and 2003 over US$345 million. With the country's improved economic development, WFP was able to close its office in December 2003.

ISESCO, which was founded in May 1982, and has some 51 member states from Africa, Asia and Europe, targets development in the fields of education, science and culture.

"We have many areas of common interests, particularly in education. For over four decades, WFP has run the largest food-for-education projects in the developing world," added Abdulla.

WFP's food-for-education programmes, which provide school lunches, have helped millions of impoverished children to be educated in countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and Yemen. In an effort to eradicate illiteracy among women, WFP is also one of the world's leaders in promoting girls' education through a take-home food ration programme.