H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, presented projects funded by multilateral and bilateral development partners in various Egyptian provinces. H.E. Minister Al-Mashat explained that these projects encompass priority sectors including the Presidential Initiative "Hayah Karima", comprehensive economic development, investment in human capital, transition to green economy, and enhancing productivity and employment through sustainable infrastructure investment.
This came during her participation in the extended workshop organized by the Ministry of Local Development with governors and their deputies, in the presence of Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development. H.E. Minister Al-Mashat reviewed the framework of investment expenditure governance during the current fiscal year, and the executive steps to prioritize projects.
H.E. Minister Al-Mashat also showcased examples of ongoing development efforts in different provinces, highlighting that the strategic framework of partnership with the United Nations includes activities and interventions coordinated with relevant parties within the "Hayah Karima" Presidential Initiative. This builds upon previous national and international experiences to enhance the initiative's contribution to investment in human capital, job creation, support for green transition, and development of health and education sectors. H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat emphasized that these projects are transparently accessible on the ministry's website and are regularly reported in the ministry's annual reports.
Furthermore, H.E. Minister Al-Mashat added that United Nations interventions under the "Decent Life" initiative are distributed across many provinces and villages, contributing to various programs such as biogas generation in rural Egypt, solar energy programs, innovation in water and sanitation sectors, and agricultural clusters (veterinary services, irrigation, and water resource management). These efforts also include digitization of healthcare facilities, including primary healthcare and hospitals.
H.E. Minister Al-Mashat addressed the prioritization of investment in human capital and human development efforts with the United Nations, covering information and agricultural guidance, digital agriculture, community awareness, comprehensive health insurance system support, health and nutrition efforts, digital skills development in villages, empowerment of girls and youth, as well as the implementation of economic empowerment and inclusive integration efforts through the Egyptian Network for Integrated Development (ENID).
H.E. Minister Al-Mashat also reviewed examples of projects implemented in several provinces, highlighting the Sinai Peninsula Development Program. The Minister then discussed the Local Development Program in Upper Egypt financed by the World Bank, which aims to support comprehensive development in Upper Egypt to attract investment, create a conducive business environment, and improve services for citizens, thereby achieving sustainable and inclusive development.
Regarding efforts to invest in human capital, H.E. Minister Al-Mashat mentioned the “Takaful and Karama” program benefiting low-income groups through cash support, as well as the school feeding program in collaboration with the World Food Programme, "Forsa" program to provide employment opportunities for the most vulnerable families, "Noura" program to empower girls and women in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund, in addition to Excellence Schools in science, technology, and mathematics, Japanese schools in Egypt, pre-university education development strategy, and comprehensive health insurance project.
H.E. Minister Al-Mashat highlighted programs and projects that enhance productivity and employment, including sustainable agricultural investment and livelihood improvement projects, sustainable agricultural transformation in Upper Egypt, infrastructure development projects such as the Kitchener Drainage Project, household gas connection project, enhancement of drinking water and sanitation services, Bahr El-Baqar wastewater treatment plant, comprehensive program for social housing finance, and the national program for solid waste management which promotes the transition to a green economy.