Since its inception, KAICIID has invested efforts and resources towards the development of working relations with the UN, including the UN Of ce on Genocide Prevention, UNESCO, UNDP, UNFPA, UN interagency task force on religion etc. These collaborations are implemented under the framework of formal cooperation agreements and MoUs, setting the priority areas of the joint interventions. In light of the Centre’s long-term strategic goal to gain the status of permanent observer to the UN, building relations with relevant UN entities remains an imperative in KAICIID external relations. The types of activities implemented to date include: 1 UN Office on Genocide Prevention Fez Process – the Role of Religious Leaders in Preventing Incitement that could lead to atrocity crimes. Five regional forums organised, Fez Decla- ration and Plan of Action to be launched in 2017. 2 UNDP Joint implementation of two projects under KAICIID’s Iraq and Syria country programme with the aim of advancing social cohesion in the Arab Region at regional and national levels. 3 UNESCO Cooperation on the implementation of the project Global citizenship education in Arab world and the Review of Textbooks. 4 UN interagency task force on engaging faith-based actors
Side event organised during the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016 and a side event entitled Bearing Witness: Combating Human Traf cking and Forced Migration, organised in the headquarters of the UN during the opening of the 71st session of the UNGA. 5 UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAoC) UNAoC and KAICIID concluded a Memorandum of Understanding on 5 May 2017 to collaborate in promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue to ensure peaceful coexistence among peoples of different cultural and religious identities. In addition to the aforementioned activities, KAICIID works to strengthen contacts with the UNDPA liaison of ce in Vienna, UNCCT, UNCTED, UN Women etc.

Establishing contacts as well as exploring the potential for cooperation between KAICIID and the EU is an ongoing priority of KAICIID’s external relations. During the last two years, the Secretariat revitalized bilateral ties with EU of cials based
in Vienna and strengthened relations among European Commission, EEAS Brussels-based of cials and KAICIID. Following an initial meeting, in late November 2017, between KAICIID’s Deputy Secretary-General, His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel and Ms. Katharina von Schnurbein, Advisor on Dialogue with Churches, Religions, Philosophical and Non-Confessional Organisations in the European Commission, the Secretariat developed a proposal to organize a technical working-level meeting scheduled on 11 May in Brussels. The meeting was held as an interactive roundtable discussion focused on deepening institutional understanding and coordination. In this context, KAICIID presented its programmatic areas and interventions in order to exchange views on corresponding thematic areas and actions within the European Commission and EEAS. Among other EU representatives, the Secretariat established contacts with Dr. Jan Figel, Special Envoy on the Promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief outside the EU, Mr. O’Flaherty, Director of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, H.E. Amb. Didier Lenoir, Head of EU Delegation to the International Organisations in Vienna.

The AUC and KAICIID work jointly to promote interreligious dialogue as a means to build peace and enhance social cohesion in Africa. Within the framework of an MoU signed in November 2013, the AUC and KAICIID jointly organised the 2nd AU Interfaith Dialogue Forum (IDF).
The Forum supports priority Area 1 of the AU agenda 2063 on the role of religious leaders in
the development agenda, Peace and Security,
and Women and Gender. The Forum gathered more than 80 participants from over 27 Member States of the African Union. The outcomes of the meeting were: (a) the establishment of a Steering Committee composed of two representatives from each African Region (East, South, West, North and Central), (b) the adoption of a Declaration and (c) the agreement on a Plan of Action for the Steering Committee to implement. KAICIID is committed to continue supporting
the AUC initiative and participate in the follow
up activities of the IDF, mainly the Steering committee meeting. KAICIID also plans to expand the contacts with the AUC of cials, in order to strengthen institutional ties with the AU. A step towards this aim was the Deputy Secretary General’s participation in the 2nd Ordinary Session of the 2nd Permanent General Assembly of the Economic Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) of the AU.