The ICESCO and the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the National Center for Environmental Compliance, held a coordination meeting to discuss the final arrangements for launching the 3^rd Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Award for Environmental Management (KSAAEM) 2021-2022 and the measures of holding the 9^th Conference of Environment Ministers in the Islamic World in Jeddah in 2022.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), and Eng. Ali bin Saeed Al-Ghamdi, CEO of the National Center for Environmental Compliance co-chaired Monday, July 12, 2021, the meeting, held via videoconference. Several ICESCO heads of sectors and Center officials also attended the meeting.

During the meeting, the two parties discussed the implemented recommendations of the previous meeting held on February 10, 2021, on developing the Award. The parties also agreed to launch the 3^rd Edition during the month of July, which will feature three categories, namely: Successful Research Works, Achievements and Practices; Leading Practices and Activities of Public Benefit Associations and NGOs; and Environmentally Friendly and Green Cities.

The two parties agreed to add another category in the edition, to celebrate women’s leadership in environmental work, in line with ICESCO’s proclamation of 2021 as the Year of Women. In this category, three awards will be dedicated to women in the main areas of environmental management, namely: Women Award for Successful Research Works, Achievements and Practices; Women Award for Leading Practices and Activities of Public Benefit Associations and NGOs; and Women Award for Leadership in Private and Public Sectors.

The meeting discussed arrangements of joint action to prepare for holding the 9^th Conference of Environment Ministers in the Islamic World in Jeddah in 2022.