● H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation: The meeting explores areas of work, possible partnerships, and technical support by the development partners of the Institute of National Planning.
● Dr. Ashraf El-Araby: The Institute of National Planning looks forward to an effective dialogue with international organizations as a pivotal partner in supporting sustainable development in Egypt.
H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation, and Dr. Ashraf El-Araby, President of the Institute of National Planning (INP), held a Multi-Stakeholder Platform meeting with multilateral and bilateral development partners, to discuss partnerships with international institutions in light of strengthening INP’s role in research studies, consulting, training and vocational and academic training, as well as planning and development, with the participation of Elena Panova, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Egypt, representatives of the World Bank Group (WBG), FAO, UNESCO, UNDP, USAID, UNICEF, UN Women and a number of representatives from embassies and other international organizations.
At the outset of the meeting, Al-Mashat stated that the ministry is working, through the Multi-Stakeholder Platforms, to achieve integration and continuous coordination between the various national agencies and multilateral and bilateral development partners, noting that INP plays an effective role in development issues, supporting decision-making in relation to development policies, and promoting efforts to achieve sustainable development.
H.E. explained that the platform plays an important role in introducing the multilateral development partners to the role played by INP, the plans it implements, the research it conducts, the postgraduate studies, the advisory services and the training programs it provides, to enhance development efforts, as well as discuss and review international partnerships and the potential and technical support that can be provided by international partners to enhance the role of the institute through the tools and mechanisms it possesses.
In his remarks, El-Araby emphasized the importance of the role played by INP in effectively addressing planning and development issues at the national, regional and international levels, pointing out that the institute is systematically reviewing its roles in the next stage through a series of effective internal and external institutional dialogues, surveying the institute's partners and stakeholders in reviewing its plans and its role, and updating its strategic direction, especially with regards to the frameworks of interaction, cooperation and partnership with all societal parties.
Al-Araby explained that the institute is looking forward to conducting an effective dialogue with international organizations as a pivotal partner in supporting sustainable development in Egypt in the current and future phases.
He added that the institute is keen to discuss issues of development work in Egypt, and the demand for research, studies, consultations, training, and vocational and academic qualification in the field of planning and development, and to propose work programs and long-term initiatives according to that vision, in addition to concluding strategic partnerships with international organizations, including It makes the development of the Institute's programs and activities driven by the demand of development-related institutions in Egypt and the world.
It is worth noting that Multi-Stakeholder Platforms is one of the principles of economic diplomacy at the Ministry of International Cooperation, which creates integration and continuous coordination between the various national entities and multilateral and bilateral development partners, to identify needs and conclude constructive partnerships that maximize the return from development cooperation. Since 2020, many platforms have been held on digital transformation, the private sector, MSMEs, health, sustainable transportation, and others sectors.