As part of the Women Development Organization’s (WDO) bilateral meetings held on the sidelines of the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women, H.E. Counselor Sarah Ismail AlShoura, Executive Director of the Women Development Organization (WDO), met with H.E. Mrs. Geela Ali, Minister of Health, Family and Welfare of the Republic of Maldives. During the meeting, both sides discussed ways to expand cooperation between the Women Development Organization and the Ministry of Health, Family and Social Services, while exploring opportunities to develop joint initiatives and strengthen the exchange of expertise in support of women’s empowerment and enhanced cooperation among OIC Member States. Both sides expressed their aspiration to continue working together and capitalize on future opportunities for cooperation, with a view to enhancing the impact of programmes and initiatives aimed at advancing women’s empowerment across OIC Member States.
As part of its efforts to strengthen partnerships with OIC Member States, H.E. Counselor Sarah Ismail AlShoura, Executive Director of the Women Development Organization (WDO), met with H.E. Ms. Sadagat Gahramanova, Deputy Chair of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in the presence of Ms. Nigar Manafova, Leading Advisor at the Foreign Relations and Protocol Service Department of the State Committee, on the sidelines of the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women, held in Islamabad, Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The meeting reviewed the existing areas of cooperation between the two sides and explored opportunities to further expand their partnership through joint programmes and initiatives, enhanced exchange of expertise, and collaborative efforts to advance women’s empowerment across OIC Member States. Both sides expressed their aspiration to build on the existing partnership and further strengthen cooperation in support of shared priorities and impactful initiatives that contribute to the advancement of women across the OIC region.
H.E. Counselor Sarah Ismail AlShoura, Executive Director of the Women Development Organization (WDO), met with Ms. Elena Panova, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Egypt, to discuss avenues for strengthening cooperation in support of women's empowerment and sustainable development across the OIC Member States.
The meeting reaffirmed the strong and longstanding partnership between WDO and the UN Country Team in Egypt, whose continued support has accompanied the Organization since the establishment of its Headquarters in Cairo. Both sides exchanged views on priority areas for future collaboration and explored opportunities to advance joint initiatives that contribute to empowering women and addressing emerging challenges through innovative and inclusive approaches.
The meeting reflected a shared commitment to building on this successful partnership and expanding cooperation to deliver meaningful and lasting impact for women across the Islamic world.
H.E. Counselor Sarah Ismail AlShoura, Executive Director of the Women Development Organization (WDO), met with H.E. Ambassador Seif Kandeel, Director General of the Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding (CCCPA), to discuss mechanisms for activating the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two organizations in 2025, implementing its objectives, and strengthening cooperation in the next phase.
The meeting explored a number of priority areas for cooperation, including capacity-building, enhancing the role of women in peacekeeping, peacebuilding, and security efforts, as well as developing joint training programmes and initiatives that contribute to achieving the objectives of both institutions and advancing women’s empowerment across the OIC Member States.
Her Excellency Counselor Sarah Ismail AlShoura, Executive Director of the Women Development Organization (WDO), met today with H.E. Ambassador Aamir Shouket, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Arab Republic of Egypt, at the Embassy of Pakistan in Cairo.
The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on the efforts and measures needed to advance women’s development across the Islamic world, including expanding opportunities for women’s political and economic empowerment and financial inclusion in the Organization’s Member States. During the meeting, Ambassador Shouket highlighted Pakistan’s experience and the steps his country has taken to empower women and strengthen their participation across parliamentary, political, economic, and social spheres.
Within the framework of bilateral cooperation, both sides discussed ways to strengthen collaboration between WDO and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan through the exchange of expertise and practical experiences. They also agreed to enhance strategic partnerships and promote the sharing of best practices in support of women’s empowerment and development across the Islamic world.
H.E. Counselor Sarah Ismail Al Shoura, Executive Director of the Women Development Organization (WDO), accompanied by H.E. Ambassador Sherif Issa, Deputy Executive Director, visited the UN Women Regional Office for the Arab States and met with Dr. Moez Doraid, Regional Director of the Office.
The two sides discussed ways to strengthen cooperation and coordination on issues of common interest related to women’s empowerment and advancement at both the global level and across OIC Member States. They also reviewed a number of ongoing initiatives and programmes aimed at supporting women’s empowerment and enhancing their participation across various areas of development.
Both sides underscored the importance of maintaining institutional dialogue and building strategic partnerships that support shared priorities, advance efforts to empower women, and contribute to inclusive and sustainable development.
H.E. Counsellor Sarah AlShoura, Executive Director of the Women Development Organization (WDO), participated in the “Africa Day” celebration organized by the National Council for Women (NCW), headed by H.E. Counsellor Amal Ammar, with the gracious presence of Mrs. Naglaa Abdel Salam, spouse of H.E. the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates, and H.E. Ambassador Alaa Youssef, Chairman of the State Information Service (SIS), alongside several distinguished ambassadors, diplomats, and public figures.
Participants reaffirmed the importance of strengthening cooperation and joint action to advance women’s empowerment and improve the lives of women across the OIC Member States and the African continent, in support of more inclusive and sustainable development.
WDO seizes this opportunity to celebrate Africa Day, marking the 64th anniversary of the establishment of the Organization of African Unity, and to reaffirm the importance of regional solidarity and cooperation in building a more prosperous and sustainable future for the peoples of Africa.
H.E. Counselor Sarah Ismail AlShoura, Executive Director of the Women Development Organization (WDO), met with H.E. Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates of the Arab Republic of Egypt, to discuss prospects for enhanced cooperation and strengthening the institutional partnership in support of the Organization’s efforts to advance women’s issues and sustainable development across OIC Member States.
During the meeting, H.E. Counselor AlShoura expressed her deep appreciation for the pivotal role played by the Arab Republic of Egypt in supporting the Women Development Organization, and for its continued support, which has contributed significantly to enabling the Organization to fulfill its mandate and achieve its objectives.
For his part, H.E. the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to providing continued support to the Organization and expressed his aspiration to work closely with WDO to promote successful and pioneering experiences in advancing the status of women and safeguarding their rights, as well as to facilitate the exchange of expertise and best practices among OIC Member States.
The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming the importance of continued dialogue, coordination, and exchange of expertise to strengthen effective partnerships and support efforts aimed at advancing women’s empowerment and sustainable development throughout the OIC region.
H.E. Counselor Sarah Ismail AlShoura, Executive Director of the Women Development Organization (WDO), was honored to attend the recognition ceremony held as part of the 5th International Arab Forum for Arab Women Diplomats, under the theme “Leadership That Creates Impact.”
During the ceremony, H.E. Counselor AlShoura was presented with a commemorative shield reflecting recognition of WDO’s growing role and ongoing efforts in advancing women’s empowerment, fostering strategic partnerships, and supporting sustainable development across the OIC region.
H.E. Counselor Sarah Ismail Alshoura extends her sincere appreciation to the organizers for this distinguished recognition, reaffirming WDO’s commitment to advancing women’s empowerment through strategic partnerships and collaboration.
#LeadershipThatCreatesImpact #WomenDevelopmentOrganization #WomenEmpowerment #WomenInDiplomacy
H.E. Counselor Sarah Ismail AlShoura, Executive Director of the Women Development Organization (WDO), visited H.E. Counselor Amal Ammar, President of the National Council for Women (NCW) of the Arab Republic of Egypt and Chairperson of the Ministerial Council and Executive Bureau of the Women Development Organization, at the Council’s headquarters in Cairo.
H.E. Counselor Amal Ammar congratulated H.E. Counselor Sarah AlShoura on her appointment as Executive Director of the Women Development Organization and reaffirmed the National Council for Women’s full support for the Organization in achieving its objectives. For her part, H.E. Counselor Sarah AlShoura emphasized the Organization’s firm commitment to working closely with Egypt and all Member States to advance the status of women across the Islamic world in the social, economic, and political spheres.
The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on ways to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the two sides and to review areas of joint work and programmes in the field of women’s empowerment, including the exchange of expertise and best practices, as well as support for initiatives and programmes that promote women’s participation and role across various areas of development.
H.E. Counselor Sarah AlShoura also underscored the importance of maintaining dialogue and further strengthening the institutional partnership between the Women Development Organization and the National Council for Women in support of joint efforts aimed at advancing the status of women and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals across the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the respective teams of the Organization and the Council were tasked with intensifying coordination and communication with a view to developing joint programmes of work.
