MOIC & UN Launch National Consultations on the 2023/2027 Framework

The Minister of International Cooperation: We aim to develop a new framework for cooperation that maintains consistency between Egypt’s priorities and the ongoing global efforts towards achieving sustainable development The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Egypt: We work side by side with the Government of Egypt to achieve sustainable development The Ministry of International Cooperation launched the national consultation meetings tackling the new strategic partnership framework between the Egyptian government and the United Nations in Egypt in the period between 2023 and 2027. The meetings shall witness the participation of more than 50 representatives from 30 government agencies and 28 United Nations agencies, with the aim of constructing a participatory dialogue to underline stakeholders’ priorities for the mutual cooperation in the upcoming five years, while discussing how national priorities can be consolidated through future projects with the United Nations. As the national coordinator of the partnership framework, the Ministry of International Cooperation leads on coordinating with the United Nations and monitoring the implementation of the strategic framework at the national level. The organizational structure of the current strategic framework 2018/2022 consists of a steering committee chaired by H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation, in partnership with Ms. Elena Panova, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Egypt, along with other government agencies representing relevant national authorities. H.E. Al-Mashat said that the strategic framework of the partnership with the United Nations mirrors national priorities towards achieving Egypt’s Vision 2030, in line with the SDGs as well as the Egyptian government's program "Egypt Kicks Off,’ which represents a blueprint for the partnership’s new strategic framework. H.E. added that the new framework aims to achieve sustainable development in light of what has been achieved through the current strategic framework 2018/2022. The new framework also takes into account the recommendations of the National Review conducted this year to place SDGs at the heart of national development strategies The Minister of International Cooperation commended the participating teams from the Ministry of International Cooperation, the United Nations, and other national entities, empathizing the need to enhance effective communication throughout different stages of the new strategic framework in the upcoming two years, in order to formulate an intelligible agenda on development priorities and common areas of cooperation with the UN. In the past few days, the Ministry of International Cooperation and the United Nations held three sessions on the joint country analysis to go over the progress made towards achieving and accelerating the implementation of the SDGs. In addition, a National Consultative meeting was held to discuss cooperation priorities with the UN that are consistent with the national goals and future plans. On her part, Ms. Elena Panova, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Egypt, said that the UN is working side by side with the Government of Egypt to fulfill the 2030 Agenda’s promise: “Leave no one behind”; through a coherent and comprehensive partnership strategy guided by the Sustainable Development Goals. Panova stressed that joint action is the key factor in achieving the tangible results affecting more than 100 million citizens in Egypt. The strategic framework of the partnership between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United Nations is the primary tool for planning and advancing United Nations activities at the country level to support the implementation of the SDGs. It is noteworthy that last May, the Ministry of International Cooperation, in collaboration with the United Nations Office in Egypt launched the roadmap for the new strategic framework for the partnership 2023/2027, configuring the new framework in a practical manner that aligns with the development priorities of Egypt. The roadmap further provides an outlook for the upcoming stages and ensures that the UN projects are compatible with Egypt’s development agenda, while contemplating the potential hazards facing development plans, especially in light of the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. Moreover, the achievements of the development projects and partnerships implemented during 2020 within the strategic framework of the 2018/2022 partnership between Egypt and the UN were also discussed, along with the projects’ budget and prospective partnerships for the period 2021-2022. During the Cabinet meeting on the seventh of this July, H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation, reviewed the strategic framework for the partnership between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United Nations for the period 2018/2022; and the roadmap for the new strategic framework 2023/2027, which represents an all-embracing document for coordinating cooperation frameworks between the government and the UN organizations operating in Egypt. It is worth noting that Egypt is one of the 50 founding countries of the United Nations in 1945, with a long-standing history of mutual relations with the United Nations and its programs, affiliated agencies, and funds. The Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator leads on the efforts of United Nations agencies operating in Egypt and represents the point of contact with the Government of Egypt.