The idea of the establishment of the Islamic Conference Youth Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation was initiated by National Assembly of the Youth Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan (NAYORA), an umbrella youth NGO in special consultative status with the UN ECOSOC, and Eurasian International Development Association (EIDA) within the program named Islamic Conference Youth Initiative . The main goal of the Initiative was to establish a coordinating body – common Youth Platform for the region of the Organization of Islamic Conference, functioning on the permanent basis with the aim to discuss issues of common interest, advocate for issues of pressing concern for Muslim youth and explore the ways for future cooperation, coordination and networking.

Upon the invitation from organizers the Preparatory Committee for ISLAMIC CONFERENCE YOUTH FORUM FOR DIALOGUE AND COOPERATION (hereinafter – Forum) initially comprised of representatives of 8 OIC countries was established on 22 – 24 August, 2003, in Baku, the Republic of Azerbaijan, which has been followed by the organizational steps mentioned below and undertaken in one year period:
The membership of Preparatory Committee of the Forum have been increased. Since January 2004 Working Group has been comprised of 11 youth organization from respective OIC countries;
Mr. Nedim Kaya, the president of EIDA, organization authorized as interim Secretariat of Preparatory Committee has participated in the “International Conference of the Muslim Young Leaders” held on 14 – 16 September, 2003 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which has been organized by the Prime Minister’s Department, Malaysia and Vision Activators prior to the OIC Summit in Putrajaya. He has actively participated in the discussions of such themes as “Ummah Unity and Religious Tolerance”, “Globalization – The future of Ummah – Vision and mission”. Mr. N. Kaya has informed the participants of the Conference about the “Islamic Conference Youth Initiative”. He also disseminated the documents, which reflected the steps already undertaken within this Project. The idea of the Forum has received a warm welcoming from the participants and contributed to the increase of the number of leading youth organizations willing to participate in the establishment of the Forum;
On 29 – 30 December, 2003 Hj. Elchin Askerov, the representative of Preparatory Committee ( NAYORA ) visited the Headquarters of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and met with Mr. Mahmoud Ahmed Saleem, Director of Cultural and Social Department and other senior officials from the Secretariat. The mentioned officials have been informed on the steps undertaken so far within the Islamic Conference Youth Initiative. In these meetings the matters concerning the Forum’s future cooperation with the OIC after its establishment were discussed. As a result of the meeting the Preparatory Committee advocated to bring the issue for the discussion at the Conference of the OIC Foreign Ministers.
Mr. Elshad Iskandarov (NAYORA), Mr. Nedim Kaya, and Elchin Askerov participated in the Senior Officials Meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, held on 9 – 11 May in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) respectively as members and observers of the delegation of Azerbaijan to the meeting. The purpose of the visit was to support the inclusion of the draft resolution "On the Islamic Conference Youth Initiative" into the agenda of forthcoming 31st session of Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers to be held in Istanbul, and introduce the fundamentals of the Initiative to the interested delegations from the OIC Member States. Prior to the meeting the draft has been discussed and amended at the consultations held by the OIC Missions to the UN through the good offices of the OIC Observer Mission to the UN and Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan to the UN. The draft resolution was unanimously included into the agenda of the forthcoming 31st session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.
Finally the resolution “On the Islamic Conference Youth Initiative” was adopted during the 31st session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers held in Istanbul on 14-16 June 2004. Mr.Elshad Iskandarov and Mr. Nedim Kaya representing the Prepcom participated in this conference and contributed into the deliberations held at the expert level.
At the parallel track the Preparatory Committee has identified through the official representatives of the OIC Member States leading youth organizations in member countries and communicated with them inviting them to participate as delegates at the Founding General Assembly of ISLAMIC CONFERENCE YOUTH FORUM FOR DIALOGUE AND COOPERATION.
In August 2004, the Preparatory Committee at its second meeting held in Baku has decided to hold a General Assembly of the ISLAMIC CONFERENCE YOUTH FORUM FOR DIALOGUE AND COOPERATION, on 1-3 December, 2004 in Baku. The meeting of the Prepcom has also set up the agenda of the General Assembly, approved the draft Statute of the Forum and other draft documents to be considered by the delegates;
Preparatory Committee during the length of its more than 1-year activity has approached several donor organizations and achieved to secure the necessary funding for holding the General Assembly.