● Al-Mashat: Strengthening integration between ENID and Haya Karima under the umbrella of the strategic framework for the partnership between Egypt and the United Nations 2023-2027.

● Dr. Heba Handousa reviews the work priorities and integration between ENID and Hayah Karima until 2026.

● Resident Representative of UNDP: We look forward to integrating with the “Hayah Karima” initiative to enhance efforts to raise the standard of living of the lowest-income groups in Egypt.

● More than 100,000 rural residents benefited from the initiative’s activities and projects, and it was reflected in the implementation of 9 SDGs.

The Minister of International Cooperation, H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, held a high-level consultative session to discuss the new expansions in the projects of the Egypt Network for Integrated Development (ENID) for the period from 2022-2026, in the villages of the Presidential Initiative for the Development of the Egyptian Rural Development “Hayah Karima”, with the participation of the Director Assistant to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Administrator of the United Nations Capital Development Fund, Dr. Mourad Wahba, Resident Representative of the UNDP in Egypt, Alessandro Fracassetti, Representative of UN Women in Egypt  Christine Arab, Executive Director of the ENID Al-Nidaa Foundation and ENID Director, Dr. Heba Handoussa alongside with representatives of the World Food Programme, the International Labor Organization (ILO), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Embassy of Canada, AlexBank, the American University in Cairo, L'Oréal, Raya Holding, Tetra Pak, and Qalaa Holdings, also participated in the meeting and the Ministry of International Cooperation’s team.

The Egypt Network for Integrated Development (ENID) is one of the national initiatives that aims to enhance the development impact of international interventions in Egypt and economic and social development efforts in the targeted and most needy communities, in light of international partnerships between the government, represented by the Ministry of International Cooperation, and the United Nations, represented by the United Nations Development Programme. 

Since its inauguration in 2012, ENID has been working to provide viable and sustainable job opportunities in Upper Egypt through four programs: developing basic services, promoting small and medium enterprises and entrepreneurship, and the sustainable agricultural development program and the dissemination of knowledge.

In her speech Al-Mashat welcomed the attendees from development partners, civil society organizations and the private sector, stressing the importance of the role played by the project team and ENID in promoting development in the most vulnerable villages in Upper Egypt, which suffer from high levels of poverty rates and development challenges. H.E  pointed out that there are many achievements that have been achieved during the previous phase of the project, through the various interventions and project activities that target real change, especially at the level of supporting women and entrepreneurs, raising living standards and addressing the gender gap, in a way that enhances the implementation of the SDGs. 

Al-Mashat indicated that since 2012, the joint project between the Ministry of International Cooperation and the UNDP has implemented many activities and interventions that have contributed to achieving a transformation in the lives of thousands of citizens in Upper Egypt, and strengthening sustainable value chains by supporting productive projects in close partnership with the private sector, stressing that in light of the development challenges facing the whole world, the search for innovative and sustainable ways to promote development has become necessary with the participation of all relevant parties, and to support and develop small and medium enterprises, in order to bring about positive economic and social change.

Al-Mashat thanked the Project Director and CEO of the ENID Foundation, Dr. Heba Handoussa, for the efforts being made on the ground in villages that are in dire need of services and development. H.E. also thanked the UNDP for the support and assistance they provide through expertise and funding, explaining that the next phase of joint work aims to strengthen the project’s interventions in the villages of the Hayah Karima Initiative, and comes under the umbrella of the strategic framework for cooperation for Egypt - UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2023 - 2027 and its pillars. H.E. explained that the coming period will witness more communication with various partners to review future work priorities and mobilize efforts to enhance integration between the ENID and the Hayah Karima Initiative.

For her part, Handoussa presented ENID’s  most prominent achievements in the villages of Upper Egypt, where nearly 50 interventions were implemented in 119 villages, benefiting directly and indirectly more than 100,000 citizens. These interventions created about 4,000 job opportunities and trained more than 2,150 women in handicrafts. These efforts were carried out in cooperation between 11 ministries, 5 governorates, and more than 70 associations from local communities in Upper Egypt.

She explained that the development interventions implemented in Upper Egypt contributed to strengthening 51 indicators of 9 SDGs.

Handousa also reviewed future integration aspects with the Haya Karima Initiative for the period from 2022-2026, through the axes of knowledge exchange, capacity building, and strengthening partnerships with development partners to advance digital solutions, with a focus on the private sector and entrepreneurship. She explained that the interventions that were implemented through ENID are already integrated with many national initiatives such as a Hayah Karima, by contributing to improving the lives and livelihoods of rural communities, increasing the income of the most needy rural families, economically and socially empowering women and youth, and mproving income through appropriate projects. It is a pioneer in various activities: agricultural, service, industrial, and craft workshops, improving basic services, and literacy classes, developing nurseries for children, and contributing to continuing to improve food and nutritional security conditions at the family and village levels, with attention to women and children.

For his part, the Resident Representative of the UNDP in Egypt, Alessandro Fracasetti, said that ENID’s new expansions reflect the successful partnership with the Ministry of International Cooperation.

He added, "With ENID, we have trained more than 21,000 individuals and contributed to creating 4,000 job opportunities, 75% of which are for women. We have strengthened efforts to implement 9 of the UN SDGs by focusing on efforts to reduce poverty, promote gender equality, and empower women, so we seek deeper integration and coordination with the ‘Haya Karima’ initiative to enhance efforts to improve the standard of living of the lowest-income groups in Egypt.”

It is worth noting that in November 2022, a celebration was held at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, during which the Ministry of International Cooperation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the UNDP signed the document launching the new phase of ENID in Egypt.

The expected budget for the new phase of the project over the next five years is $31.7 million, and the United Nations Development Program is providing support worth $100,000. The new phase aims to enhance efforts to improve the deteriorating social and economic conditions in Upper Egypt and use integrated methodologies to support comprehensive and sustainable growth, based on the lessons learned and accumulated experiences from the previous stage in development efforts in Upper Egypt since 2021, in addition to expanding the geographical coverage of development efforts in Upper Egypt.