The Minister of International Cooperation, H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, and Ms. Elena Panova, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Egypt, co-chaired the Annual Meeting of the Steering Committee of the UN Partnership Development Framework (UNPDF)- the strategic cooperation framework between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United Nations for 2018-2022- during which they reviewed the achievements of the joint development projects and initiatives of the past year and discussed the allocated budget for projects planned for the budget year 2021/2022. The hybrid meeting was held at the premises of the Ministry of International Cooperation, with the participation of all Country Directors of UN agencies operating in Egypt, in addition to senior representatives from line ministries and national institutions, including Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice, Education, Local Development, Manpower, Trade and Industry, Environment, Social Solidarity, Planning and Economic Development, and Health and Population. Also present, were representatives of the Egyptian Cabinet Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC), the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), Egyptian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (MSMEDA), the National Population Council and the National Council for Women (NCW). The Steering Committee of the UN Partnership Development Framework focuses on four main pillars: Inclusive Economic Development, Social Justice, Environmental Sustainability and Natural Resources Management, and Women’s Empowerment. The planning for the work under the four strategic themes is overseen by four Results Groups, that are also co-chaired by relevant institutions from the Government and the UN. The estimated budget for the implementation of the goals of the UNPDF amounts to $1.2 billion. Results of the Strategic Partnership Development Framework with the UN in 2020 During the Steering Committee Meeting, the United Nations presented and reviewed the work conducted in support of government efforts, under the UNPDF and its respective four strategic pillars, in the year 2020 . Inclusive Economic Development Within the framework of the first pillar, a partnership was launched between the UN in Egypt and the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (MSMEDA), to provide technical support and facilitate the provision of financial services as well as capacity-building services. Moreover, a national survey was launched to identify the impact of COVID-19 on Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in Egypt, in cooperation with MSMEDA and the CAPMAS. In Gharbiya Governorate, several milk collection centers were developed in support of this strategic subsector and within the framework of a partnership between the Ministry of International Cooperation and the International Labour Organization (ILO). The implemented projects and initiatives supported 103.5 thousand start-ups and existing companies, about 5.2 thousand beneficiaries were trained in the field of business administration, and 3,952 institutions were supported to access financial and non-financial services and markets. Furthermore, 1,517 small-scale cotton farmers were supported to gain access to markets as part of the “Better Cotton Initiative''. In addition, the government has received technical support to design the “Forsa” [Opportunity] program launched by the Ministry of Social Solidarity, which aims to provide job opportunities for eligible groups from the beneficiaries of the “Takaful and Karama” social safety net program, and assist them in their transition to a self-sufficient career path. Social Justice Within the framework of this pillar, the UN supported the Government of Egypt’s efforts to develop an action plan to end violence against children and adopt standard operating procedures to manage child protection case management; this includes children on the move and protection in emergency cases. In addition, technical support was provided to support Egypt's efforts to develop an inclusive health insurance law. The UN also contributed by providing technical support for the expansion of social safety net programs to enable them to reach 203,700 vulnerable families; including 4,649 refugees and vulnerable migrant families, in addition to supporting 110,300 families' access to clean drinking water. Furthermore, the UN also supported the Government of Egypt’s efforts in facing the negative repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic by providing virtual trainings to 5,200 employees on topics that are COVID-19- related; providing 6 million medical face masks, 3 million gloves, and 380,000 packages of personal protection equipment to employees working in the health care sector. Moreover, 192,700 children and their families have received financial assistance as an alternative to school meals. Environmental Sustainability and Natural Resources Management Within this pillar of the framework, the UN provided technical support to the Government of Egypt during the preparatory stage of the National Housing Strategy and the stages of updating the 2030 Sustainable Agricultural Development Strategy and reviewing the Environmental Law. Moreover, 35,600 small-farmers were trained on climate change adaptive measures. Technical support has also been provided to the Government of Egypt regarding the promotion of ecotourism through the “Go Green” presidential initiative, in addition to allocating development financing worth $4 million for projects promoting solar thermal energy technology in the industrial sector. Also, 82 companies have adopted green and circular systems pushing towards a green industrial transition. Government officials in coastal cities have also been trained in methods to integrate coastal zone management, as well as the establishment of a central pro