Creating a unified narrative that creates linkages across sectors broadens and deepens the overall impact.
As impact correlates with action, the development community’s attention is now centered on promoting sustainability, and how stories from projects can create lasting impact by uncovering new approaches to sustainable development to provide inspiration for other countries to replicate.
To push for a nexus approach to development, projects are not traditionally implemented in a linear set of steps, but rather they are in a continuous process that connects complementary areas of work through stakeholder dialogue.
Egypt’s Ministry of International Cooperation (MOIC) and CNN International Commercial (CNNIC) are collaborating on a new global advertising campaign, Building Forward: Stories from Egypt, which highlights the country’s international partnerships for sustainable development. It illustrates Egypt’s collaboration with bilateral and multilateral development partners and international financial institutions that fosters multilateralism to push an inclusive, digital and green economy.
The films come under the Ministry’s Global Partnerships Narrative - the third core principle in economic diplomacy - which aims to showcase Egypt’s success stories in development through film and content storytelling to inspire action, foster engagement with global and local audiences and put Egypt’s story of development on the world stage.
In line with the directives of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to bolster Egypt’s multilateral cooperation through country-led frameworks, the Ministry of International Cooperation has been keen on pushing the frontiers of collaboration through the three principles of economic diplomacy to effectively deliver the 2030 National Agenda, consistent with the UN SDGs. The principles include: multi-stakeholder platforms, ODA-SDG mapping, and the Global Partnerships Narrative.
The film presents the story of Gabal El-Asfar wastewater treatment plant, which is an example of how Egypt is addressing context-specific drivers, such as climate change and food security, to meet the sustainable development goals and boost efficient use of resources by moving to a clean and circular economy.
Aspiring to be a regional leader in the efforts to channel development financing for social and environmental impact, the film refers to Egypt’s vision for infrastructure-driven development that integrates climate adaptation to social and economic services to communities and societies.
As the third largest in the world, the Gabal El-Asfar wastewater treatment plant treats the sewage for half the population of Cairo and was established in partnership with a multitude of development partners - including Italy, France, the European Investment Bank, the African Development Bank, and Japan International Cooperation Agency. With a total treatment capacity of 2.5 million cubic meters per day, the plant is designed to reduce waste and optimally utilize water resources.
The plant demonstrates sound circular economy practices throughout the treatment process, as it produces organic fertilizers, generates electricity from methane gas enough to power 60% of its needs, saves the equivalent of 28,000 tons of carbon emission per year and irrigates 150,000 feddans of agricultural land using treated water.
The film also demonstrates Egypt’s nexus approach to development to take into account the dynamic interrelationships between water, energy and food to help manage resources sustainably, and achieves the following SDGs: SDG 6 for Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 9 for Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 11 for Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 12 for Responsible Consumption and Production, and SDG 13 for Climate Action.
Cathy Ibal, Senior Vice President, CNNIC, said, “Sustainability and creating a positive impact are key priorities for CNN and are important to our audience and our partners. We are delighted to be joining once again with Hon. Minister Rania Al-Mashat and her excellency’s team to highlight MOIC’s efforts towards the Sustainable Development Goals and the Ministry’s involvement in Egypt’s economic progression through this dynamic international campaign that will reach audiences in English and Arabic.”
Minister Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat expressed her enthusiasm for partnering with CNN, underscoring that “Egypt’s leadership is keen on fostering transparent and interactive engagement with all stakeholders to exchange experiences, build consensus, and ensure effective coordination. The Ministry’spartnership with CNN is an important opportunity to showcase Egypt's successful collaboration with development partners and international stakeholders through real-life examples and projects that have been fundamental in transforming peoples’ lives and stimulating social, economic and environmental advancement.”
She added, “We are engaging for impact towards our common future."
As the national coordinator of the partnership framework, the Ministry of International Cooperation is currently focused on developing partnership strategies, which includes the new 2023-2027 strategic partnership framework with the United Nations to support the Government of Egypt’s priorities in achieving development in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) and taking into consideration the social-environmental dimension.
The Ministry of International Cooperation’s ongoing development cooperation portfolio includes 372 projects worth $26.5 billion in a variety of sectors, prioritizing an inclusive, green and digital economy.