● Al-Mashat: The “Hayah Karima” initiative involves a large number of young volunteers and reflects the role of youth in supporting development efforts.
● A large youth population is one of Africa’s greatest assets, and empowering them accelerates progress towards the SDGs.
H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, participated in a discussion session with Ms. Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General and Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Group. The meeting also included Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports; Dr. Kevin Frey, CEO of the Generation Unlimited Initiative; Ms. Elena Panova, UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt; Mr. Ahmed Alhendawi, Secretary-General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement; and Ms. Zubaida Mahmoud, Head of the Programs Unit at the UN Group.
This session took place during the 43rd World Scout Conference in Cairo, which saw participation from representatives of over 176 countries.
The discussion touched on the importance of youth efforts and the role of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in advancing development through youth engagement. In this context, H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat emphasized the crucial role of youth in achieving development and the government's efforts to enhance investment in human capital and uplift Egyptian citizens, particularly the youth, while increasing their involvement across various fields.
H.E. Minister Al-Mashat highlighted the significance of the presidential initiative "Hayah Karima," which aims to achieve integrated development in Egypt's rural villages and relies heavily on volunteers from civil society organizations. This underscores the vital role of youth in supporting state efforts to achieve development, noting that Egypt has between 1.5 to 3 million volunteers participating in various initiatives.
The Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation further noted that Egypt represents the voice of Africa at the World Scout Conference, where youth are regarded as one of the continent's greatest assets. Empowering them significantly impacts efforts to achieve sustainable development goals. H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat mentioned the initiatives the ministry is pursuing in collaboration with the United Nations and other international partners, including the national version of the Generation Unlimited Initiative, “Shabab Balad.” This initiative involves governmental bodies, the private sector, development partners, and youth in executing programs aimed at enhancing youth awareness and skills.
Additionally, H.E. Minister Al-Mashat discussed the ministry’s efforts to increase the number of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) schools through partnerships with the United States Agency for International Development and other initiatives.