Egypt, USAID sign MoU on initiative to secure jobs for social protection programs beneficiaries

CAIRO – 8 September 2022: Egypt and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) have signed an MoU to implement a program that seeks to secure job opportunities for beneficiaries of the national social protection programs.

Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine Al-Qabbaj and USAID Deputy Mission Director Margaret Sancho witnessed the signing of the MoU to implement ‘Ebda’ Rehletak’ (Start Your Journey) program under the umbrella of ‘Forsa’ employment program, according to a statement by the ministry.

The new program ‘Ebda’ Rehletak’ will seek to secure jobs for beneficiaries of Takaful w Karama, Forsa, and Haya Karima programs.

The program also seeks to secure the necessary funding for the establishment of ‘Ebda’ Rehletak’ units in the ministry headquarters and a number of governorates.

Moreover, the MoU will develop the organizational structure and roles and responsibilities of the members of these units. The MoU will also establish an electronic platform for the program and secure the electronic equipment for the central and subsidiary units.

For her part, Sancho said the US and Egypt continue through a sustainable and deep partnership their cooperation to create programs that connect young people to the skills they need to enter the labor market and reduce unemployment levels in Egypt.

She added that the signing of the MoU reinforces the common goal of raising the living and social standards of the target groups in cooperation with the private sector to enhance their role in economic development.

The USAID’s historical cooperation portfolio in Egypt has exceeded $30 billion since 1978, while the portfolio of projects signed since 2014 has reached about $1 billion, according to the Ministry of International Cooperation in March.