Egypt's Social Solidarity Minister details figures on monetary subsidies beneficiaries

CAIRO – 8 February 2023: During her participation Tuesday at the ceremony held to launch a World Bank report on Egyptian demographics, Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine al-Qabbaj stated that 68 percent of Takaful w Karama (the monetary subsidies programme) live in rural areas and that 74 percent are women.

The minister added that 45 percent are aged below 24, while 36 percent are aged below 18. Qabbaj clarified that the larger the size of a family, the poorer it is. Hence, not being dismissed from the programme is bound to certain conditions.

It is noted that the program covers a maximum of three children per family and the eligibility of beneficiaries is reviewed every three years.

The conditions are: children should be aged 6-18; they must maintain at least an 80-percent school attendance record; four visits per year to health clinics by mothers and children aged below 6 must be paid to keep track of children growth; and nutrition awareness sessions must be attended.

Qabbaj underlined that the ministry is carrying out an awareness campaign called "Two Are Enough" to encourage couples to not have more than two children, which is the replacement rate. That is coupled with efforts to eliminate illiteracy, given that almost 60 percent of the programme's beneficiaries were illiterate.

The minister added that plans to raise the number of nurseries in Egypt are underway to encourage mothers to enter the labor market, which would not just enhance the family's living conditions but would also curb the number of births in the country.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli announced in May adding 400,000 more families to Takaful w Karama as a consequence of the global economic crisis. The programme started with 63,000 families in FY2015/2016, and now has as beneficiaries 5.2 million families.