The meeting looked into the work done by the steering committee and its achievements within the UN Partnership Development Framework for Egypt (UNPDF) 2018-2022.
The Minister of International Cooperation commended the steps implemented within the roadmap for preparing the upcoming UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2023-2027, strengthening contribution to the Decent Life (Hayah Karima) Initiative.
The Minister of International Cooperation H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat met with Egypt’s UN Resident Coordinator Elena Panova, to discuss a number of joint cooperation files within the framework of the partnership between Egypt and the UN. This is part of the periodic meetings held by the Ministry of International Cooperation with multilateral and bilateral development partners to support development efforts and Egypt’s 2030 Vision.
The meeting included discussions on the work of the steering committee for the strategic framework of the partnership between Egypt and the UN, alongside the convening of the final technical results groups meetings to determine the results achieved during 2021, within the UNPDF 2018 - 2022. They also discussed convening the joint facilitation committee in the coming period, headed by the Minister of International Cooperation and Egypt’s UN Resident Coordinator, to approve the joint work plans for 2022, and to review and evaluate what has already been achieved.
Al-Mashat referred to the strategic relationship between Egypt and the UN, and its specialized agencies, which is reflected in advancing development efforts and in meeting development goals in Egypt, through close cooperation with all relevant parties, while also preparing the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2023-2027. The UNSDCF is being done closely with the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt to prepare reports of achievements, and this is at the level of the four results groups and future joint action plans in cooperation with the UN agencies and programmes, ministries and relevant national entities within the UNPDF 2018 - 2022.
The Minister applauded the roadmap for preparing the upcoming UNSDCF 2023 - 2027, where extensive consultations began last year with over 32 national entities and UN agencies, and affiliated programs. This year, high-level national consultative meetings were held with the participation of ministries and relevant entities, as well as consultations with development partners, private sector, civil society, and academics, in coordination with the Ministry of International Cooperation and UN Office in Egypt, where over 125 representatives participated.
Al-Mashat also stressed the importance of successive meetings and discussions to explore more opportunities for cooperation, so as to support national development efforts, reflecting the goals of Presidential Initiatives, such as a Decent Life (Hayah Karima), and The Government's Program “Egypt Takes Off”, and Egypt’s 2030 Vision, thus contributing to the UN’s global goals.
The discussions also touched on the efforts made with the UN to integrate the Decent Life (Hayah Karima) initiative, as a key element in the UNSDCF 2023-2027, which was carried out by Antonio Vigilante, International Consultant and the former Resident Coordinator in Egypt for the UN. Al-Mashat also emphasized the participation of the UN and its affiliated agencies in the Decent Life initiative, while also following up on the meeting that took place last December with the participation of over 75 representatives from the UN agencies.
In addition, the meeting also looked into cooperation within the framework of Egypt's presidency of the COP27, and the ongoing discussions between the Ministry of International Cooperation and development partners on enhancing green financing opportunities, through innovative and blended financing, to support sustainable development efforts, and to accelerate the transition to a green economy.
The UN Resident Coordinator Elena Panova stressed the UN’s keenness to enhance cooperation with the Government of Egypt in all areas of development, and to move forward towards preparing the new strategic framework, stimulating progress towards sustainable development and supporting Egypt in climate action, within the framework of the COP27.
It is worth noting that the relationship between Egypt and the UN dates back to 1945, as Egypt is one of the founding members of the UN. Moreover, the strategic framework for partnership was launched in 2006, and a number of stages for it have been laid out, the last of which was the UN Partnership Development Framework for Egypt (UNPDF) 2018 - 2022, which includes 4 pillars: Inclusive Economic Development, Social Justice, Environmental Sustainability and Natural Resource Management, Women's Empowerment. The upcoming partnership is the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2023-2027.
The strategic framework of the partnership between Egypt and the UN is implemented through a governance framework, where the Ministry of International Cooperation and the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Egypt jointly chair its Steering Committee. The committee’s membership includes relevant national entities and UN agencies, and the technical work is also coordinated with results monitoring to ensure implementation and desired outcomes.