Algiers: The UN Women Regional Office for West and Central Africa and the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing food security and agricultural development in West and Central Africa. This agreement was formalized on the sidelines of the Islamic Development Bank Group's 2025 Annual Meetings, held at the International Conference Center in Algiers.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the MoU was signed by Ambassador Berik Aryn, Director-General of the IOFS, and Maxime Houinatou, Regional Director of the UN Women Regional Office for West and Central Africa. The agreement focuses on the economic empowerment of women and youth in the region. The IOFS Director-General stated that the program's implementation will commence in Nigeria and Sierra Leone, with an emphasis on empowering women in villages to access resources and enhance their capacities in agriculture.
Ambassador Aryn highlighted that the IOFS, comprising 41 countries, is actively working on several programs in Africa, including the Food Security Initiative on the Continent, and is providing technical support and expertise to various countries. Maxime Houinatou, Regional Director of the UN Women Regional Office for West and Central Africa, underscored the significant role of UN Women in supporting women in African countries through agricultural investment and empowerment. He noted that Islamic finance aligns with African values and traditions, particularly in Central and West Africa, and that the collaboration with the Islamic Organization for Food Security will aid women farmers in these regions to contribute to their countries' development through wealth creation.