SESRIC has, over the years, initiated many capacity-building Programmes on a wide range of socio-economic areas of interest to the OIC member countries with a view to enhancing the capacities of their human resources in the relevant national institutions. The Centre implements these Programmes in collaboration with the relevant national, OIC and international institutions through various modalities, such us training courses, training workshops and study visits. The Centre usually conducts its training and capacity building activities physically by matching the capacities and needs of different national institutions of the member countries. In addition, the Centre hosts and manages a number of specific thematic Networks and Portals that bring together national focal points of relevant national institutions with the aim of sharing knowledge and exchanging expertise and best practices.

The restrictions on international travel during 2020 due to the global crisis of COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult for the Centre to implement its training and capacity building activities physically. However, despite all the challenges, the Centre has succeeded to mobilise its resources and undertake all necessary steps to continue its activities virtually. The Centre has recognized that intra-OIC collaboration and solidarity were needed more than ever and, accordingly, exerted all its efforts during these difficult times towards enhancing cooperation and synergy among the national institutions in the member countries. The Centre, therefore, started to conduct all its activities virtually through online platforms to keep pace with the global solution and to continue accommodating the training activities and keep participants motivated and engaged in its various programmes.

During 2020, SESRIC has successfully conducted (27) virtual training courses and (2) training workshops in addition to organising (10) Webinars and (3) Networks and Meetings at the OIC level. The Centre’s records show that 54 OIC Countries have taken part in the conducted virtual training and capacity building activities during the year 2020 with the involvement of 648 participants in the training courses, 58 participants in the training workshops and 186 participants in the Networks and Meetings from various national institutions of the OIC Member States.

While believing that the constraints can be confronted better with collective efforts and solidarity, the Centre will continue its efforts towards strengthening the institutional and human capacities in the member countries through its various modalities of South-South Cooperation mechanism.