H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, stated:
● The “NWFE” platform has opened new opportunities for investments in renewable energy, green hydrogen, and water and food security.
● The program integrates the water, food, energy, and transport sectors to address interrelated development challenges through environmentally sustainable solutions.
● It ensures the transformation of policies and strategies into actionable projects that deliver tangible sustainable development outcomes.
● With 55% of the global population living in urban areas responsible for 70% of carbon emissions, addressing climate challenges is urgent.
● The World Urban Forum underscores the increasing importance of regional and international cooperation to tackle shared global challenges.
The World Urban Forum (WUF12), hosted in Cairo from November 4th to 8th under the patronage of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, spotlighted Egypt’s “NWFE” Program as a model for national platforms that facilitate the transition from policy to implementation, drive sustainability, and attract climate investments.
This was highlighted during a special session at the forum titled “From Policies to Implementation: The Country Platform for the ‘NWFE’ Program, the Nexus for Water, Food, and Energy Projects.” The session featured participation from H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation; Mr. Abdourahmane Diaw, Country Manager of the African Development Bank's Egypt office; Mr. Guido Clary, Head of the European Investment Bank’s (EIB) Regional Center for North Africa and the Middle East; Mr. Mohamed Abdel Kader, IFAD’s Country Director for Egypt; and Mr. Sherif El-Gendy, Program Manager at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The session was moderated by Dr. Nazem Mtimet, Senior Regional Technical Specialist for Markets and Value Chains at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
In a video address, H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, emphasized that the World Urban Forum (WUF), returning to the African continent after more than 20 years, underscores the growing importance of regional and international cooperation in addressing shared global challenges and advancing sustainable development.
Dr. Al-Mashat highlighted that sustainable urban development is no longer a long-term aspiration but an urgent necessity. She pointed out that over 55% of the global population now lives in urban areas, which consume more than two-thirds of the world’s energy and generate 70% of total carbon emissions. This, she noted, underscores the immense challenges posed by urban expansion, while also offering unprecedented opportunities to combat climate change, promote social justice, and foster inclusive development.
H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat continued by emphasizing that, to seize these opportunities and tackle the challenges, cities must take the lead in adopting innovative clean energy solutions, developing resilient infrastructure, providing inclusive and affordable housing, and enhancing highly efficient transportation systems. She highlighted the critical role of all stakeholders—governments, international institutions, the private sector, and civil society—in creating sustainable urban environments aligned with global sustainable development goals.
The Minister further noted that during Egypt’s presidency of the COP27 Conference, the country launched the "NWFE" platform, a pioneering initiative at the nexus of water, food, and energy. This initiative aims to achieve fair climate financing and has already successfully mobilized climate investments to implement numerous projects.
H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat added that the "NWFE" platform serves as a practical model for attracting climate finance and private investment through country platforms, in alignment with national priorities and sustainable development goals. She highlighted that this platform demonstrates how effective partnerships can mobilize essential resources by leveraging the unique strengths of each stakeholder, while adopting innovative financing tools that mitigate risks associated with climate-related investments and sustainable development.
H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat continued by explaining that the “NWFE+” initiative integrates interconnected sectors such as water, food, energy, and sustainable transportation to tackle the intertwined challenges that hinder development. The initiative focuses on building sustainable infrastructure to support the agricultural sector, conserve water resources, utilize renewable energy sources, and promote environmentally friendly transportation solutions.
The Minister further highlighted that, under the energy pillar of the “NWFE” program, Egypt plans to phase out several fossil fuel-powered stations, replacing them with new renewable energy stations with a capacity of up to 10,000 megawatts. She emphasized that this milestone represents a significant achievement that not only boosts local economic growth but also empowers communities to actively participate in the green transformation process.
Dr. Al-Mashat also stressed that the platform is committed to supporting and developing advanced technologies such as green hydrogen and battery energy storage. She added that the “NWFE” program has opened new markets in these sectors, further advancing Egypt’s journey toward sustainable development and the creation of a green economy that aligns with modern advancements and responds to future needs.
H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat also explained that country platforms, such as the “NWFE” platform, have become key mechanisms in coordinating development efforts and mobilizing necessary resources to achieve strategic goals. She noted that multilateral development banks emphasized the importance of these platforms during COP28 as effective tools for fostering partnerships and ensuring the sustainability of development financing. These platforms unite governments, the private sector, civil society, and international partners, resulting in improved coordination, greater impact of development initiatives on the ground, and tangible benefits for local communities.
Dr. Al-Mashat added that the “NWFE” platform has proven to be a pioneering and inspiring model for other countries, with its successes encouraging nations like North Macedonia and Tanzania to launch their own platforms focused on the energy transition. This highlights how a country platform can act as a catalyst for adopting similar strategies that promote renewable energy and sustainability in various global contexts.
In the context of ongoing efforts to enhance sustainable economic growth, H.E. noted that the Ministry’s new “Framework for Sustainability and Financing for Economic Development” continues to prioritize the development of multilateral cooperation platforms. This framework ensures that economic growth is accompanied by inclusive development, translating into concrete projects and significant improvements in infrastructure, public services, and the local economy. Dr. Al-Mashat emphasized that this approach aims to enable local communities to benefit from economic progress and actively participate in achieving both national and international sustainable development goals.
H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat concluded her speech by affirming that a strong commitment to collective action and collaboration among all stakeholders remains the cornerstone for achieving the ambitious goals of sustainable development. She emphasized that platforms like “NWFE” are not merely regulatory tools, but essential frameworks that ensure policies and strategies are translated into tangible actions that positively impact citizens' lives and steer the world toward a more sustainable and equitable future.