H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, delivered the keynote speech at the opening session of the conference, "Building a Culture of Accountability through Evaluation, Auditing, & Ethics," held in cooperation with the New Development Bank (NDB) and the General Economic Relations Division of the Ministry of Finance in Bangladesh.

At the outset of her speech, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat expressed pleasure at participating in this high-level event, which brings together decision-makers, specialists, and experts from around the world. She noted that this comes at a time when the role of good governance, evaluation, and accountability tools in building more efficient, sustainable, and responsive development paths for our peoples' aspirations is growing.

H.E. Minister Al-Mashat pointed out that oversight and evaluation are no longer merely administrative tools used to track activities and outputs. Instead, they have become among the most important pillars of modern strategic management because they provide a solid foundation for policy formulation, achieving integration between priorities, improving resource allocation, and ensuring the maximization of developmental impact at both sectoral and societal levels.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat reiterated that tangible results can be achieved on the ground by building effective monitoring and evaluation systems. This allows for continuous review of progress towards development goals and enables evidence-based decision-making, rather than relying solely on assumptions or estimations.

H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat affirmed that these principles are now being translated into practical and institutional steps in Egypt. She mentioned that in March 2023, the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation launched the "Automated Information Management System (AIMS)" This advanced platform represents a qualitative leap in Egypt's journey toward enhancing transparency and accountability and integrating data with decision-making.

H.E. Minister Al-Mashat also noted that this system has brought about a radical transformation in the mechanisms for monitoring and implementing development cooperation programs. This was achieved by centralizing information, unifying data sources related to financial flows, tracking disbursement rates, and monitoring the geographical and sectoral distribution of funding. This has helped decision-makers respond more quickly to changes and make more effective decisions.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat emphasized that the success of any system is measured not only by its internal development but also by its ability to create an inclusive and participatory environment. From this perspective, the Egyptian state has adopted an approach based on engaging various stakeholders in the development process, including government institutions, international development partners, civil society organizations, and, most importantly, the private sector.

In this context, she highlighted Egypt's pioneering and innovative experience in launching the "Country Platform for the Nexus of Water, Food, and Energy Projects - NWFE," which was initiated in July 2022. This platform responded to Egypt's vision of achieving effective integration between development goals and climate action by linking the three vital sectors: water, food, and energy, within a single institutional framework and an extended strategic partnership.

H.E. Minister Al-Mashat added that the NWFE platform was designed to be a practical model for applying innovative financing mechanisms to achieve adaptation, mitigation, and resilience-building goals through tools such as debt-for-sustainable-development swaps, concessional financing, grants, investment guarantees, and facilitating private sector participation in renewable energy projects.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat confirmed that partnership with the private sector is not merely an option but a necessity for achieving inclusive and sustainable growth. The private sector possesses resources, expertise, and the capacity for innovation, making it a pivotal partner in implementing the national development agenda, especially given the need for significant investments that the state cannot bear alone.

Al-Mashat underscored that one of the most prominent challenges facing companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, is the lack of information about financing opportunities and services available from international institutions and development partners. To bridge this gap, the "Hub for Advisory, Finance and Investment for Enterprises (HAFIZ)" platform was launched. This platform serves as an integrated hub connecting development partners, government agencies, international institutions, and the local investment community to facilitate access to available resources, provide technical advice, and build effective communication bridges between various parties.

Concluding her speech, H.E. Minister Al-Mashat  reaffirmed the significance of boosting regional and international cooperation in evaluation, monitoring, and governance, as well as exchanging best practices in private sector engagement and leveraging successful experiences to build more sustainable models. She added: "We are fully prepared to share our experience in Egypt and benefit from the experiences of others, because we believe that true development is only achieved through partnership, solidarity, and joint action."