Beneficiaries of pilot phase of Decent Life initiative record 4.5M Egyptians

CAIRO – 17 January 2022: In spite of COVID-19, poverty prevalence in Egypt declined from 32.5 percent in FY2017/2018 to 29.7 percent in FY2019/2020. As poverty mostly exists in the countryside, that progress is attributed to Decent Life initiative, whose pilot phase was launched early in 2019.

The pilot phase alone is worth LE5.4 billion ($337.5 million), and had as beneficiaries 4.5 million citizens.  The projects accomplished include introducing utilities in 16,000 houses, and building ceilings for those that lacked them. That is in addition to 54 modern healthcare units; 2,800 classrooms whose total capacity is 100,000 students; and, 82 veterinary units.  

Electrical grids and the lighting of streets were enhanced as well as 216 security, firefighting, and landscaping units. Water coverage became 94 percent up from 86 percent in 151 rural communities, while wastewater coverage rose to 100 percent in 63 rural communities with investments worth LE1 billion. Further, 163 roads were paved across 331 rural communities.

Until December, 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.

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.