BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 28. On October 28,
Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, met
with Salim bin Mohammed AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic
World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(ICESCO).


During the meeting, the sides discussed prospects for
cooperation between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and ICESCO. They
recalled that the Foundation received the Hamdan-ICESCO Prize in
2025 in recognition of its projects in education and social support
across the Islamic world and other countries. It was also
emphasized that the Foundation had consistently attached particular
importance to education and social welfare throughout its
activities.


In this regard, the sides highlighted the importance of the
memorandum providing for the exchange of experience and
implementation of joint projects in culture, science, education and
the promotion of modern technologies. They also noted the agreement
signed in 2025 on projects aimed at empowering women affected by
conflict and promoting their social inclusion in three regions of
Burkina Faso and Niger.


Following the meeting, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and ICESCO
signed a new cooperation agreement providing for the implementation
of several major projects.







One of the projects envisages the next presentation of the
Natavan Heritage Excellence Award. Established jointly by the
Heydar Aliyev Foundation and ICESCO, the award aims to promote and
share best practices in the protection and management of tangible
cultural heritage.


Another area of cooperation under the new agreement is the
implementation of a regional project entitled “Peace Through
Culture and Development in West Africa”. Covering Togo, Burkina
Faso, Niger, Benin and Côte d’Ivoire, the project will focus on
fostering intercultural dialogue, preserving cultural heritage,
strengthening institutional and professional capacities, and
actively involving young people and women in these efforts.


The agreement also provides for the continuation of the
Artificial Intelligence Index (AI Index) in the Islamic world,
launched in Baku in 2025. A ministerial-level meeting is planned to
discuss progress in this area and develop cooperation on artificial
intelligence among countries of the Islamic world.