H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, held a number of bilateral meetings with development partners and UN organizations. This was during Dr. Al-Mahat’s participation, as part of the Egyptian delegation headed by H.E. Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, on behalf of H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Republic of Egypt, in the proceedings of the Second World Social Development Summit.
The summit is organized by the United Nations General Assembly in cooperation with the Government of Qatar and coordinated by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) during the period from 4 to 6 November.
Dr. Rania Al-Mashat met with Dr. Felipe Paullier, Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs and Head of the UN Youth Office. The meeting witnessed discussions on the strong relations between Egypt and the United Nations, with its various organizations and affiliated programs, and explored national efforts in the field of youth empowerment and increasing investment in human capital, particularly through the "Shabab Balad" (Youth of a Nation) initiative, which is the Egyptian version of the UN initiative Generation Unlimited.
On another note, the Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation met with Ms. Sabina Alkire, Director of the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI). They discussed ways to enhance joint relations. Dr. Al-Mashat highlighted the measures undertaken by the Egyptian state to promote social protection through numerous initiatives and programs, particularly the “Takaful and Karama” (Solidarity and Dignity) program, and the presidential initiative “Haya Karima” (Decent Life), which contributes to developing infrastructure and services provided to the residents of rural Egypt, in addition to the “100 Million Health” initiatives, and other measures aimed at improving human development indicators in Egypt.
In another context, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat met with Ms. Sima Sami Bahous, UN Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director. The meeting addressed the joint relations between the government and UN Women, within the framework of the National Strategy for the Empowerment of Women, and efforts to increase gender equality in opportunities in the labor market, through constructive partnerships with the private sector and civil society.
The Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation stressed that the government was keen to place "women's empowerment" as a main pillar within the Strategic Framework for Partnership with the United Nations for the period 2023-2027, given its importance in supporting economic development efforts.
Dr. Rania Al-Mashat also met with Mr. Fahad Abdulla Malik, Head of external relation and engagement at the Education Above All Foundation, and Mr. Mana Al-Ansari, Chief Economic Empowerment Officer at the Education Above All Foundation. The two sides discussed advancing cooperation in the field of economic empowerment for youth, supporting education efforts for the most needy groups, providing training and qualification programs for youth to prepare them for the labor market, and benefiting from entrepreneurship and digital transformation programs.