“It’s like a repeated nightmare fleeing armed groups who come into our towns, our villages, our homes and our farms, opening fire and slaughtering women, children, men,” said Lucia Alfred, a mother of eight.

Lucia hails from Dingimo, a village in the greater Tambura region of South Sudan’s Western Equatoria state, where a fresh spate of intercommunal violence in past weeks has led to hundreds of newly displaced people seeking shelter outside the United Nations Mission in South Sudan’s (UNMISS) temporary base here.

Troubled since conflict first erupted here in 2021, Tambura residents are worried about their children’s future.

“As mothers, our hearts are broken,” revealed Lucia. “All we want is for our children to be able to have an education, like every other child in the world.”

UNMISS peacekeepers have been doing everything they can to protect the newly displaced – women, children, and the elderly, who have left everything they own behind, desperate for safety. Local authorities are also actively engaged.

But food is scarce, as is shelter and healthcare and for those affected the situation seems hopeless. However, they are quick to acknowledge that the presence of Blue Helmets is a silver lining.

“Many of us are going hungry; food is a challenge, but we are thankful that UNMISS peacekeepers are making sure we have clean water,” stated Gloria Dario, another displaced person sheltering with her 12 children near the UNMISS temporary base.

“When we see them patrolling day and night, it makes us feel much safer. They also advise us on the security conditions and whether we should move around, which is very helpful,” she added.

According to Papy Christian Tshienda, Acting Head of the UN Peacekeeping mission’s Field Office in the state, despite all efforts, the situation on the ground remains fragile.

“We have strengthened our coordination and information gathering abilities on the ground to ensure that we can prevent any further outbreak of violence and have reinforced the number of troops stationed at Tambura,” he revealed.

“Our priority is to demonstrate our presence, deter any further escalations and make sure that displaced people are protected. But tensions remain high.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

For many children across South Sudan, going to school is just a dream.

Years of conflict has devastated infrastructure, including educational facilities, as well as caused severe economic hardship, and a dire humanitarian situation which is depriving many children of the chance to access the education they need to succeed in life.

Recognizing this need, Bangladeshi peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan in Wau have reached out to support local schools by handing over much needed textbooks, school bags, pencils, teaching materials and sports equipment, including footballs and volleyballs. Their priority is to provide opportunities to the most vulnerable, including young learners who have been displaced by conflict or other challenges in the area.

“I am thrilled to have books in my hand. It has been a dream of mine for a long time,” said Lino Madut Bong, a student at the Rocrocdong Primary School. “This gift brings us hope.”

Teachers at the school, many of whom continue their work despite suffering significant delays in salary payments, say the lack of educational opportunities is a persistent problem even as the country transitions from conflict to peace.

“Every child has the right to go to school and learn. Yet for many of our children, proper schooling remains a distant dream,” said Rocrocdong Primary School Head Teacher, Martin Aleu Aleu.

“This donation will go some way towards helping them, but much more support is needed to enable our children to reach their full potential in life.”

The Civil Military Coordination Officer for the Bangladeshi battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Md Golam Mostofa, highlighted the important link between education and peaceful coexistence.

“We are passionately working to help secure sustainable peace in South Sudan, but without education, it will be hard to achieve that goal. For this reason, we want to contribute to building the capacity of the schooling system in South Sudan.”

The Rocrocdong students are grateful for every opportunity to learn.

“We are extremely heartened by this support. It is a struggle to ensure we continue our education, but these kinds of gestures motivate us,” said student Mary Adau Madit.

At the handover ceremony, the Jur River Education Inspector, Valentino Chol also expressed appreciation for the support and encouraged students to continue their learning, despite the odds.

“Although the education sector faces crippling challenges, we are committed to doing everything in our power to establish vibrant and results-oriented public education services that prioritize learning,” he said.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) (www.ICD-PS.org) is pleased to announce the signing of 11 pivotal agreements aimed at fostering economic development and facilitating private sector growth and access to capital in several of its member countries.

These agreements underscore ICD’s commitment to driving sustainable growth and prosperity through strategic partnerships and financial support.

In its efforts towards expanding access to finance in Côte d’Ivoire, the ICD has signed a EUR 15 million Line of Financing Agreement with Banque de l’Union Cote d’Ivoire (BDU-CI). This agreement will provide BDU-CI with the resources needed to finance a range of private sector projects in Côte d’Ivoire, contributing to economic growth and job creation.

In line with its objectives of empowering SMEs in its member countries, the ICD has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the Cameroonian bank, Credit Communautaire d’Afrique of Cameroon(CCA). This LOI is intended to  pave the way for a potential EUR 10 million Line of Financing facility to be extended by ICD to CCA, enabling CCA to further support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Cameroon. This collaboration strengthens the ICD’s partnership with the Cameroonian banking sector and underscores ICD’s commitment to SME development in general.

Further, in its efforts to boost private sector growth in Uzbekistan, the ICD has signed a series of agreements with several Uzbek banks to bolster private sector development in Uzbekistan. These agreements include: a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Trustbank, in respect of a proposed USD 10 million Line of Financing facility to support the bank’s efforts in financing eligible private sector entities in Uzbekistan,  an MOU with Orient Finans Bank (OFB) to explore providing  additional Line of Financing facility to the OFB  having regard to the successful implementation of previous similar facilities extended to it by ICD. In addition, the ICD also signed two other MOUs with Asia Alliance Bank and Uzbek Leasing International underscoring the ICD’s continued commitment to fostering economic growth in Uzbekistan, and providing  Uzbek banks with the much needed funding and support to expand and  enhance their operation and support to private sector enterprises in Uzbekistan.

In terms of equity investments, the ICD, in its efforts towards promoting access to finance and financial inclusion also signed an MOU with Anor Bank of Uzbekistan with the objective of exploring the possibility of transforming  a conventional finance company, Taiba Finance, into the first Islamic Bank in Uzbekistan. This collaboration represents a significant step towards promoting financial inclusion in Uzbekistan.

As a demonstration of its commitment to support the economic growth of each member country, the ICD has also signed an MOU with Azerbaijan Investment Company OJSC. This collaboration underscores ICD’s commitment to deepening its engagement and support for private sector initiatives, thereby fostering sustainable economic growth and prosperity in Azerbaijan. In addition, the ICD also signed a Line of Financing Agreement with Rabitabank of Azerbaijan, by which it will be providing the bank with a USD 15 million Shariah-compliant line of finance facility to be channeled to finance and support SMEs in Azerbaijan. This facility again underscores ICD’s unwavering dedication to empowering local businesses and contributing to private sector growth and economic development in general in its member countries in the CIS region.

The 2024 Annual Meetings of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) stand as a pivotal moment in the organization’s history, marked by a theme encapsulating its five-decade journey of fostering socio-economic development: “Cherishing our Past, Charting our Future: Originality, Solidarity, and Prosperity.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD).

About the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD):
The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector is a multilateral development financial institution and a member of the Islamic Development Bank Group. It was established in November 1999 to support economic development in member countries by providing financing for private sector projects, promoting competition and the spirit of entrepreneurship, and encouraging cross-border investments. The Corporation is currently rated  A+  by  Fitch, A2  by  Moody’s, and A- by S&P.  

For more information on ICD visit www.ICD-PS.org

The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC) (http://ICIEC.IsDB.org), the Shariah-based multilateral insurer and member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, successfully concluded the 2024 Annual Meetings, having signed thirteen significant agreements and MoUs totaling US$ 689 million. These commitments with fifteen member countries and business partners span a broad spectrum of operations and projects across various sectors, further reinforcing ICIEC’s dedication to sustainable economic development.

Under the theme “Cherishing our Past, Charting our Future: Originality, Solidarity, and Prosperity,” the meetings featured ICIEC’s active participation in the 2024 Private Sector Forum. This included the ICIEC’s High-Level Panel Discussion that highlighted the transformative role of Saudi investments in fostering economic growth across ICIEC Member States, in alignment with their national development agendas. The event brought together stakeholders from government, international organizations, financial institutions, and the tech industry to discuss strategies for navigating emerging geopolitical risks and exploring new investment opportunities.

Key agreements during the meeting included Reinsurance Treaty arrangements with Indonesia Eximbank and the Export-Import Bank of Malaysia Berhad, MoUs with AZPROMO of Azerbaijan for investment promotion, and substantial credit insurance and financing arrangements with Societe Generale and Deutsche Bank to support infrastructure and healthcare projects in Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire, respectively.

Moreover, ICIEC has expanded its collaborations  through new partnerships across various sectors. A cooperative framework with The Saudi Agricultural Development Fund (ADF) aims to enhance strategic initiatives, while a framework with the Federation of Contractors from Islamic Countries (FOCIC) focuses on knowledge sharing and capacity building within the insurance and contracting sectors. Additionally, agreements with Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. and ZTE Corporation are set to strengthen telecommunications infrastructure across Member States, enhancing connectivity and access to modern technology. MoUs with the National Infrastructure Fund of Saudi Arabia (INFRA) aim to align efforts to support infrastructure projects with developmental impact and foster institutional cooperation. Furthermore, a significant partnership with Joint Stock Commercial Bank “Agrobank” and Standard Chartered Bank explores a long-term financing partnership to bolster economic development in Uzbekistan through Islamic financing products.  This is expected to yield EUR 150 million in support of SMEs in Uzbekistan.

These initiatives not only reflect ICIEC’s strategic efforts to leverage Islamic finance for global development but also demonstrate a proactive approach to cultivating meaningful partnerships that supports  the economic objectives of our member states .

Mr. Oussama Kaissi, the CEO of ICIEC, emphasized the significance of these collaborations: “This year’s Annual Meetings mark a defining moment for ICIEC as we celebrate three decades of dedicated service towards economic resilience and prosperity of our Member States. The agreements signed here span a diverse array of sectors and are a testament to our commitment to leveraging Islamic finance to foster sustainable development. Our discussions at the Private Sector Forum have underscored the critical role of Saudi investments in propelling growth across our Member States, exploring new horizons in emerging markets, and reinforcing our theme of cherishing our past while charting a prosperous future in a sustainable way.”

As ICIEC celebrates its 30th anniversary, its role as the only Shariah-based multilateral export credit and investment insurance provider continues to be crucial in facilitating over USD 108 billion in trade and investments, promoting growth, and development in its Member States.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC).

Media Contact:
Rania Binhimd
Communication Department
Email: Rbinhimd@isdb.org

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About The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC):
ICIEC commenced operations in 1994 to strengthen economic relations between OIC Member States and promote intra-OIC trade and investments by providing risk mitigation tools and financial solutions. The Corporation is uniquely the only Islamic multilateral insurer in the world. It has led from the front in delivering a comprehensive suite of solutions to companies and parties in its 49 Member States. ICIEC, for the 16th consecutive year, maintained an “Aa3” insurance financial strength credit rating from Moody’s, ranking the Corporation among the top of the Credit and Political Risk Insurance (CPRI) Industry. Additionally, ICIEC has been assigned a First-Time AA- long-term Issuer Credit Rating by S&P with Stable Outlook.  ICIEC’s resilience is underpinned by its sound underwriting, reinsurance, and risk management policies. Cumulatively, ICIEC has insured more than US$ 108bn in trade and investment. ICIEC activities are directed to specific sectors – energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, healthcare, and agriculture.

For more information, visit: http://ICIEC.IsDB.org