H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat: “Shabab Balad reflects the State’s vision and President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s commitment to empowering youth and investing in their capabilities to prepare generations capable of leading the future”
Minister of Youth and Sports: “The Shabab Balad Academy is a real investment in youth potential and a gateway linking education with the labor market”
UNICEF Representative in Egypt: “The Academy enables every young woman and man to develop their skills and build the future they deserve”
UN Resident Coordinator: “We support the Shabab Balad initiative to unlock the full potential of Egyptian youth”
Chairman of Al Ghurair Foundation: “Egypt’s progress and prosperity are rooted in its youth—the source of talent and innovation”
The Egyptian Government, in partnership with the United Nations, inaugurated the headquarters of the “Shabab Balad” Academy at the Gezira Youth Center in Cairo, within the framework of the Shabab Balad Initiative, which aims to empower Egyptian youth by developing their skills through integrated pathways for training, education, employment, and entrepreneurship. The initiative represents Egypt’s national implementation of the UN Generation Unlimited (GENU) global initiative.
The inauguration was attended by H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation; Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports; Ms. Elena Panova, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Egypt; Mr. Kevin Frey, Executive Director of Generation Unlimited; Mr. Hamad Al-Zaabi, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Cairo; Ms. Natalia Winder Rossi, UNICEF Representative in Egypt; Mr. Abdulaziz Al Ghurair, Chairman of Al Ghurair Foundation; as well as youth ambassadors of the Shabab Balad initiative.
Following the inauguration, ministers and guests conducted a tour of the Academy and its various activities, guided by youth ambassadors of the initiative.
Empowering Youth as a Pillar of Development
H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat affirmed that the Shabab Balad Initiative, launched by the Egyptian Government during the World Youth Forum 2022 under the patronage of H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, represents tangible progress in the State’s efforts to empower youth by equipping them with essential skills, connecting them to opportunities, and building a generation capable of contributing effectively to Egypt’s economic development. She emphasized that the inauguration of the Academy reflects the leadership’s strong commitment to preparing youth for the future.
She highlighted the close cooperation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports in establishing the Academy at Gezira Youth Center as a national platform for skills development, employment linkage, and innovation. She noted that, through her co-chairmanship of the Shabab Balad Initiative alongside the UN Resident Coordinator and Egypt’s membership in the GENU Global Leadership Council, efforts will continue to expand the initiative and unlock broader opportunities for Egyptian youth.
H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat expressed her appreciation to Dr. Ashraf Sobhy for the Ministry’s role in selecting and preparing the Academy, and extended her thanks to the United Nations team and UNICEF in Egypt, as well as Emirati philanthropist Abdullah Al Ghurair for his continued support.
She underscored that investment in human capital and youth empowerment is a cornerstone of inclusive and sustainable economic development, noting that Egypt’s Narrative for Economic Development: Reforms for Growth, Jobs & Resilience dedicates a specific pillar to human development and highlights national efforts to empower youth through initiatives such as Shabab Balad.
Linking Youth to Education and the Labor Market
In his remarks, Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports, stated that the inauguration of the Shabab Balad Academy embodies Egypt’s vision of investing in youth as the nation’s true wealth and a key driver of comprehensive development. He emphasized the Ministry’s commitment—under the guidance of the political leadership—to providing youth with opportunities to develop their skills, prepare for local and international labor markets, and build capacities in innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital transformation.
He added that the Academy represents a successful model of cooperation between the Egyptian Government, the United Nations, and international partners, contributing to aligning youth skills with modern educational and training pathways that meet labor market needs. He stressed that youth centers have evolved into comprehensive development hubs, a vision reflected in selecting Gezira Youth Center as the Academy’s headquarters.
Dr. Sobhy further noted that the Shabab Balad Initiative aims to empower 13 million young women and men by 2027, demonstrating Egypt’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and strengthening partnerships with international organizations and the private sector.
International Partners’ Statements
Ms. Natalia Winder Rossi, UNICEF Representative in Egypt, stated:
“Today, we are not merely inaugurating a new facility—we are unlocking new possibilities. This marks a significant milestone in Egypt’s journey to ensure that every young woman and man has the skills, confidence, and support needed to build the future they deserve.”
Ms. Elena Panova, UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt, added:
“The United Nations stands united behind the Shabab Balad Initiative, working with Egypt to unleash the potential of its youth and accelerate progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.”
Mr. Abdulaziz Al Ghurair, Chairman of Al Ghurair Foundation, expressed his pride in witnessing the inspiring progress of the Shabab Balad Initiative in Egypt, stating:
“Egypt’s progress and prosperity are rooted in its youth—its most valuable asset and a source of talent and innovation. Investing in young people enhances Egypt’s competitiveness regionally and globally, and Al Ghurair Foundation remains firmly committed to empowering youth and expanding their future opportunities.”
He also extended his appreciation to H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat for her leadership and contribution to advancing the initiative in Egypt.
About the Shabab Balad Academy
The Shabab Balad Academy is the flagship program of the Shabab Balad Initiative, a national platform designed to accelerate Egypt’s voluntary commitment to supporting 13 million young women and men by 2027 through integrated pathways in education, training, employment, and entrepreneurship.
With 18.5 million young people aged 15–24 in Egypt, the Academy provides a comprehensive national ecosystem and a dynamic, interconnected platform that enables youth to unlock their potential and actively contribute to Egypt’s development journey.