The Ministry of International Cooperation continues to pave the way for gender equality by hosting the ceremony for signing the 2021-2024 Multilateral Cooperation Program for Gender Equality in Egypt, launched by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The program is to be implemented in collaboration with the UN Women, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the National Council for Women (NCW). The ceremony took place in the presence of H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al- Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation; Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports; Dr. Maya Morsy, President of the National Council for Women; and H.E. Ambassador Hong Jin-Wook, Korean Ambassador to Egypt; with the participation of Ms. Frederika Meijer, UNFPA Representative in Egypt; Ms. Germaine Haddad, UNFPA Assistant Representative; Ms. Christine Arab, country representative of UN Women in Egypt; Ms. Gielan El-Messiri, Deputy Country Representative at UN Women Egypt country office; and Mr. OH Yeon Keum, Country Director of KOICA Egypt Office. The Multilateral Cooperation Program seeks to empower women on the economic level through the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) that promote decent job opportunities and access to skills development. The program targets several governorates, including Assiut, Qena, Sohag, Mansoura, Beni Suef, Alexandria, and Greater Cairo. The program contributes to the ongoing projects by UN Women and the National Council for Women, namely the “Women’s Economic Empowerment in Egypt” project to reinforce equality in the economic arena. The partnership comes within the framework of South Korea's development cooperation plans in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for 2021-2025. Egypt was appointed to be the priority strategic partner for the country in the region; as stated during the meeting between H.E. Al-Mashat with H.E. Jin-wook, earlier this year in May. The multilateral program also incorporates the “Preventing and Combating Gender Based Violence in Egypt” project, implemented through the UNFPA’s partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the National Council for Women. This project aims to limit gender-based violence by consolidating social protection systems and relevant bodies to eliminate violence and spread youth-led awareness across society. H.E Dr. Rania A. Al- Mashat highlighted Egypt’s endeavors towards ensuring more inclusive social and economic environments for women in order to maximize their potential and contribution to Egypt’s economic growth. Al-Mashat stressed that sustainable economic growth necessitates the inclusion of women, which, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), could boost the country’s GDP by 34%. H.E. Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, the Minister of Youth and Sports, applauded the fruitful cooperation between the Ministry and various relevant entities within the framework of integration aimed at enhancing the economic empowerment of women, developing skills through the implementation of joint programs, establishing projects that meet the necessary objectives of cooperation, and providing services to Egyptian women. Sobhy added that the Ministry’s cooperation with the UNFPA has led to the implementation of many projects that revolve around increasing sports, providing services to develop skills, and empowering women. This comes within the framework of the Ministry’s strategy to open up prospects for cooperation and investment with international institutions and organizations that seek to support projects addressing youth and sports. The President of the National Council for Women, Dr. Maya Morsy expressed her gratitude regarding the two joint cooperation agreements signed to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in Egypt between the UN Women, UNFPA, and KOICA. Morsy elaborated that the two agreements address issues of great importance to the Government of Egypt; the eliminiation of violence against women and the economic empowerment of women. She added that in light of the National Strategy for the Empowerment of Egyptian Women 2030 approved by the President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the council is concerned with the aforementioned issues. Mory also stressed the importance of coordinating efforts between national entities and development partners to empower Egyptian women in all fields. She added that much progress has been made on this front in recent years, considering the support coming fromGGG the political leadership. Morsy noted that the true development of Egypt will not be achieved without strengthening the participation of women, advancing them, protecting them and enabling them to play their role to the fullest. In her concluding remarks, Morsy applauded the cooperation between the Ministry of International Cooperation, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the UN Women, the UNFPA and KOICA in working on issues of common concern. On his part, H.E. Ambassador Hong Jin-Wook applauded this step, stating that Korea now has become a partner of the Egyptian government in combating gender-based violence, and in boosting women’s economic capability. H.E. Jin-Wook further expressed his confidence in future partnerships in various social and economic agendas between the two countries. Vice President of KOICA, Baek Sook-Hee said, in a video message from South Korea, that “KOICA is making unremitting efforts to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women in many partner countries. In 2019, KOICA launched the ‘Fill the Gap’ initiative to support SDG 5: Gender Equality. I am pleased that we are able to bring this initiative to Egypt, as the first gender equality collaboration in the MENA region, and I hope that this cooperation will enhance KOICA’s contribution to national efforts being made to achieve equality.” Frederika Meijer, the UNFPA Country Representative for Egypt said “the elimination of gender-based violence is central in UNFPA’s upcoming strategic plan. We look forward to KOICA’s support and we are grateful for the partnership with the Ministry of International Cooperation, th