Islamic Organisation for Food Security

Islamic Organisation for Food Security
Arabic: المنظمة الإسلامية للأمن الغذائي; French: Organisation islamique pour la sécurité alimentaire
Abbreviation	IOFS
Formation	9 December 2013
Founded at	Conakry, Guinea
Type	Food and agriculture organization
Legal status	Foundation
Focus	Food security, agriculture, rural development, deforestation, desertification
Location	Astana, Kazakhstan;
Services	Humanitarian aid
Fields	Agriculture
Membership	42 member states
Official language	Arabic, English, French
Director General	Askar Mussinov
Main organ	Organisation of Islamic Cooperation

Islamic Organisation for Food Security (IOFS; Arabic: المنظمة الإسلامية للأمن الغذائي; French: Organisation islamique pour la sécurité alimentaire), is a food and agriculture organization and one of the eight specialized institutions of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation focused on the development of agriculture and rural development with primary focus on widespread scarcity of food and food security of the member states. Its charter is formally signed by 41 member states out of 57 as of 2022. The associated member states work in collaboration with IOFS.^[1]

Established in 2012 by adopting a resolution in the 39th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Pakistan,^[2] it actively collaborates with intergovernmental organization such as Economic Cooperation Organization to promote its ideology within the scope of the OIC'S guidelines outlined for the food security.^[1]

History

Islamic Organisation for Food Security was established on 17 November 2012 by adopting a resolution in the 39th session of Council of Foreign Ministers hosted by the Republic of Djibouti between 15 and 17 November 2012. However, it became a specialized institution of the OIC after adopting a resolution in the 40th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers hosted between 9 and 11 December 2013 in Conakry, Guinea. It came into force on 19 February 2008 under Article 21 of the Statute, OIC and its Secretariat became operational on 1 March 2018.

The sessions of IOFS are hosted by the ministers of food, agriculture, environment, and water resources of the member states. They formulate action plans for food crises and security and development of agriculture.^[3]^[4] The Republic of Kazakhstan is a full-fledged member of the IOFC which also serves its headquarters in Astana.^[5]

By the decision of the 6th General Assembly, held in Doha on 3 October 2023, Kazakh diplomat Askar Mussinov was elected as Director General of IOFS, as of 1 January 2024.^[6]

Objectives

IOFS is objectively focused on the coordination, formulation, and implementation of agricultural policies to reduce food crises in its associated member states. It also conducts humanitarian assistance operations in the state of emergency.^[2] It also contribute in the field of desertification, information technology (IT), erosion, and deforestation in addition providing information concerning use of water resources.^[7] It also collaborate with other institutions to prevent spread of cross-species transmission, particularly border disease.^[8]