The President of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), H.E. Dr. Bandar M.H. Hajjar, and the Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, signed a new Cooperation Agreement to support Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policymaking in Mozambique and Uzbekistan on 15 March 2019. The project will strengthen the capacities of both countries to develop an STI policy in support of the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals.

“We are delighted to partner with the Islamic Development Bank to facilitate the implementation of science, technology and innovation our shared Member states” said Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO. “UNESCO and the IsDB have the desire to narrow the science, technology and innovation gap o ensure that all countries benefit from scientific and technological progress and innovation across the Sustainable Development Goals.”

IsDB and UNESCO are commited to promote an enabling environment for comprehensive science, technology and innovation systems, policies, as well as for development of institutional and human capacity to promote sustainable economic development, entrepreneurship and youth employability. Therefore, IsDB and UNESCO will join forces in this project to strengthen capabilities to produce accurate STI information; use this information to design STI policies and policy instruments, and to eliminate the persisting gender imbalance in STI.

“The need for STI policies in IsDB member countries is crucial given their importance in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals” said Bandar M.H. Hajjar, President of the IsBD. “During a short period of time, the IsDB has made great progress in promoting and utilising STI, helping bring immense economic opportunities, new and better jobs and higher living standards. Our partnership with UNESCO has been integral to achieving this.”

As part of the signing ceremony in Paris, Mr Bandar Hajjar presented the Ms Audrey Azouay, with the “Science, Technology, and Innovation Institutional Profile of the Islamic Development Bank” report. The report is one of the outputs of previous UNESCO-IsDB cooperation agreement showcasing the transformation of the IsDB in its efforts to support STI in IsDB member countries.