53K micro enterprises funded within 1st phase of Decent Life initiative

CAIRO – 15 December 2021: Decent Life initiative has provided – within its first phase - funding and technical support to 53,032 micro enterprises through the Ministry of Social Solidarity and civil associations to enhance the living conditions of beneficiaries.

Until present, LE103 billion were spent through the initiative on 600 projects located across 377 villages at 11 governorates. Those are in the sectors of healthcare, education, infrastructure, sports, culture, and job creation.

Head of the Central Administration of Decent Life Initiative Alaa Gad al-Karim stated in September that the development of 1,413 rural villages - out of targeted 4,500 - will be accomplished by June 30, 2022, and that the upgrade of the entire Egyptian countryside will be completed by June 30, 2024.

Assistant to Minister of Planning for Sustainable Development Gamil Helmy unveiled in May that 89 percent of the budget disbursed within the first phase of Decent Life initiative was directed to Upper Egypt so as 334 out of 375 villages received LE8.5 billion. The official further added that 94 percent of beneficiaries at that phase live in Upper Egypt.

The budget allocated to the entire initiative is LE700 billion, and the number of beneficiaries is 58 million.

The goals of the initiative are as follows:

Rehabilitating houses, building ceilings for houses that lack them, and building residential communities in villages in need.

Connecting the houses to water supply, wastewater, natural gas, and electricity networks. 

Introducing infrastructure necessary for micro enterprises.

Providing medical services, building hospitals and healthcare units, and equipping them with the necessary devices and medical staff.

Operating medical caravans, and offering prosthetics. 

Improving the quality of schools, and nurseries, and establishing literacy classrooms.

Expanding economic empowerment, vocational training, and employment through micro, small, and medium enterprises.

Establishing industrial, and craft complexes.

Bolstering food supply chains, and providing subsidized food.