● “City sustainability is a core pillar for achieving comprehensive economic development,” stated H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat.
● Youth play a vital role in leading development and urban efforts.
● Enhancing financing for sustainable economic development across various sectors.
● Integrating climate and sustainability dimensions in partnerships with multilateral international institutions.
● The Egyptian government places significant importance on supporting the green transition and climate action.
● We are preparing to participate in the Financing for Development Conference to present the perspectives of developing and emerging nations.
● Strengthening cities’ and communities’ resilience through expanded mitigation and adaptation projects.
● The NWFE Program has become a model for national platforms that integrate climate and development efforts.
● NWFE includes multiple projects aimed at addressing climate change in urban and rural communities.
● The green transition is a central focus within the national structural reforms program.
● We are finalizing the executive regulations for the new planning law.
● Egypt plays a pivotal role in international forums for exchanging expertise with the Global South.
● We are implementing various initiatives to support startups, climate action, and youth empowerment.
H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, participated in a ministerial session on “Youth Climate Changemakers: Catalyzing Local Action for Urban Sustainability,” as part of a conference organized by the Ministry of Local Development and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) in celebration of World Cities Day at the Alexandria Library. This event also aligns with preparations for the upcoming World Urban Forum next week.
The session was attended by Dr. Ashraf Sobhi, Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr. Ali Abu Sena, CEO of the Environmental Affairs Agency representing the Minister of Environment, and was moderated by media figure Osama Kamal.
In her remarks, Al-Mashat discussed the ministry’s efforts to mobilize necessary investments and integrate climate considerations into planning processes. She highlighted the importance of fostering partnerships with international development partners to support climate change mitigation efforts, stating, “environmental sustainability is a key component when preparing the state’s investment plan.” Human development currently represents 42% of government investments within the economic and social development plan, infrastructure and industrial development account for 37%, and local development in the governorates comprises 21%.
H.E. Al-Mashat emphasized that achieving environmental sustainability—an essential foundation for comprehensive and balanced development—is pursued through integrating environmental dimensions into development plans. This approach fosters green and sustainable economic growth, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The ministry places a significant focus on transitioning to a green economy and increasing the proportion of green projects within its plans.
The Minister stressed the Egyptian government’s commitment to youth empowerment, noting that youth empowerment is a central enabler within all national strategies in collaboration with development partners. The national structural reforms program has also included green transition as a main pillar.
H.E. Al-Mashat also highlighted various initiatives designed to empower youth and equip them with environmental knowledge and green skills essential to addressing environmental challenges. Among these initiatives is “Shabab Balad,” launched during the World Youth Forum in 2022 by the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation in partnership with the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Egypt and UNICEF. This initiative aims to foster a unique public-private-youth partnership (PPYP) model to implement developmental projects, bringing together public and private sectors, development partners, civil society organizations, and youth, thus having a positive impact on young people in Egypt.
The Minister also referenced the presidential initiative “Hayah Karima,” which aims to achieve comprehensive rural development in Egypt’s countryside, incorporating environmental dimensions and green economic transition through a variety of projects in water and sanitation, as well as renewable energy. She highlighted that Egypt has prioritized green transition since 2014, with significant attention given to various aspects of green transition by the Egyptian state.
Additionally, All-Mashat spoke about the global preparations for the Fourth Conference on Financing for Development, scheduled to take place in Spain next year, and the ongoing discussions within international forums. She stressed that economic development and climate action are inseparable, noting that real progress—especially in developing countries heavily impacted by climate change—requires both government efforts and development financing to reduce private sector investment costs.
In this context, she emphasized the importance of multilateral cooperation in advancing these efforts and mentioned the launch of the country platform for the NWFE Program by the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation. This program includes major projects in water management, climate adaptation, and sea level rise mitigation in the Delta region, as well as initiatives to enhance the resilience of rural communities against climate change through sustainable practices and early warning systems.
Al-Mashat also mentioned Egypt’s upcoming hosting of the World Urban Forum next week, which underscores Egypt’s pivotal role within the international community in supporting sustainability efforts in cities, especially in the face of climate change. Cities worldwide are responsible for 35% of emissions.
The Minister highlighted several initiatives led by the Ministry to empower and increase youth awareness, including the Sustainable Development Ambassadors initiative, “Be an Ambassador,” which promotes awareness among youth regarding sustainable development and its various dimensions. Other initiatives include the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects, the global Climatech Run Competition supporting climate-focused startups, and the United Nations’ “Shabab Balad” initiative, which aligns national climate and environmental efforts with youth engagement.
In a separate context, Al-Mashat spoke about the ongoing efforts to finalize the executive regulations of the Planning Law, which includes provisions to enhance the integration of environmental and sustainability dimensions within the planning framework. She highlighted the Ministry’s commitment to harmonizing local resources and external financing to advance development efforts.
She also underscored Egypt’s role in the international community in promoting sustainable development efforts and fostering experience-sharing among countries through South-South Cooperation and Triangular Cooperation.
In concluding her speech, H.E. Al-Mashat affirmed that achieving sustainable development is an ambitious goal, particularly given the global challenges faced today. She stressed the need for concerted efforts from the state, private sector, civil society, and development partners to finance sustainable development through innovative ideas and financing tools to bridge the financing gap.
During the conference, H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, along with Ms. Anna Claudia Rossbach, UN-Habitat Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director, Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development, and Dr. Ashraf Sobhi, Minister of Youth and Sports, witnessed the awarding of the Global Sustainable Development Award in Cities (Shanghai Award), honoring the five winning cities for the second cycle: Agadir, Morocco; Thiruvananthapuram, India; Doha, Qatar; and Melbourne, Australia. Additionally, Lieutenant General Ahmed Khaled, Governor of Alexandria, received a special honorary certificate for Alexandria, recognizing the city’s distinguished heritage.