● Al-Mashat: The year 2023 witnessed many aspects of cooperation with the African Development Bank to implement projects in various fields of development and empower the private sector.
● We launched the electronic system for managing data and following up on projects funded by development partners, AIMS, to enhance transparency efforts and periodic follow-up of projects.
● The electronic system is the first of its kind that links data related to projects funded by development partners and makes it available to all relevant ministries and executive authorities.
The Minister of International Cooperation, H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, opened a workshop to review the performance of the development cooperation portfolio with the African Development Bank (AfDB), which is held annually to follow up on the efforts achieved at the level of joint cooperation to advance the development agenda within the framework of the joint country strategy 2022-2026, and setting priorities for future cooperation, documenting the successes and achievements that have been achieved, as well as identifying the obstacles and challenges facing their implementation to formulate the necessary measures to overcome those challenges and develop an appropriate plan to improve the portfolio’s performance.
The workshop witnessed the participation of representatives of the Ministries of Housing, Water Resources and Irrigation, Transport, Finance, the General Drainage Authority, the Egyptian Railway Authority, the Project Development Authority, the General Authority for Investment, the General Authority for River Transport, the Executive Authority for Drinking Water and Wastewater, the Luxor Water and Wastewater Company and project implementation units funded by the African Development Bank.
In her speech, Al-Mashat stressed the importance of joint cooperation with the AfDB as a major development partner for more than four decades, pointing out that the periodic workshop represents the importance of working to review and follow up on developments and exploring priorities for the next stage and monitoring the challenges that prevent the implementation of some projects.
Al-Mashat noted that 2023 witnessed many developments within the framework of cooperation with the AfDB in light of the efforts undertaken by the state to stimulate the transition to a green economy, and to accelerate the pace of implementation of NDCs through the NWFE program, the pillar of connection between water, food and energy projects. H.E. explained that the AfDB, through its role as a major development partner in the water pillar, works to strengthen national efforts aimed at enhancing sustainable management of water resources, in addition to allocating more funds to private sector projects to enhance its contribution to development efforts.
H.E. pointed out that the relationship with the Bank extends for more than four decades, as Egypt is a founding member of the bank and has many cooperation programs with the bank, noting that the cumulative portfolio with the Bank amounts to about $7.5 billion to finance many projects with the government and private sectors, including water supply, sanitation, energy, agriculture, finance, infrastructure, and transportation, in a way that enhances the Egyptian State’s Vision 2030 and SDGs.
Al-Mashat stated that cooperation with the AfDB in implementing the NWFE program, represents a shift in cooperation with the bank, in order to enhance efforts to advance climate action and development, accelerate the pace of green transformation, and provide sustainable solutions to confront climate change, through projects that attract investments and are viable. For financing, it is based on effective participation between the private sector, the government, and international institutions, explaining that the platform does not only aim to advance climate action at the local level, but also at the regional and international levels by providing a replicable platform, especially in the African continent, that reflects the close interrelation between climate and development.
Al-Mashat pointed out the launch of the first follow-up progress report of the NWFE program last November on the occasion of the one-year anniversary of the launch of the program, which highlighted the successes achieved during the past year in the areas of water, food, energy and sustainable transport, in cooperation with various relevant parties. H.E. thanked the AfDB and other partners for their tireless work to support development and climate action in Egypt. The final statement, which was issued with the participation of 20 development partners, also reflected an affirmation and commitment to continuing efforts with the state to enhance climate action.
H.E. also pointed out the issuance of the electronic system for data management and follow-up of facilitated development financing projects (AIMS), during the current year, which comes within the framework of efforts to enhance the follow-up and evaluation of projects through the electronic system and stress the importance of coordination with periodic evaluation missions of development partners. H.E. noted that the new system is the first of its kind that links data related to development cooperation agreements, projects and programs with development partners, in order to ensure the availability of relevant information at all levels between the Ministry and all national authorities in a way that enhances their role in the process of monitoring and evaluation and supporting decision-making.
Al-Mashat praised the close cooperation between the various executive ministries and the technical teams responsible for implementing projects funded by the AfDb and development partners, which reflects the importance of joint work to accelerate the pace of development.
To download the follow-up progress report for the NWFE program
Link to the joint final statement of 20 development partners on the NWFE program