UN SDGs of Clean water, sustainable cities allocate 70% of Egypt's development cooperation portfolio

CAIRO – 1 November 2021: The United Nations’ sustainable development goal (SDG) 6: Clean Water and Sanitation; and SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities account for 70 percent of Egypt's development cooperation portfolio, which is worth $25 billion, according to Minister of International Cooperation Rania A. Al-Mashat.

The Minister further elaborated that this comes in light of the Ministry of International Cooperation’s doctrine of Economic Diplomacy, through which the Ministry works to develop and strengthen international partnerships to achieve Egypt’s Vision 2030.

This came during Al-Mashat’s meeting with the Executive Director and the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, Maimunah Sharif, within the framework of the minister’s participation in the World Cities Day held in Luxor Governorate, where the Minister addressed areas of joint economic cooperation with the UN Habitat, in light of the strategic framework for cooperation for sustainable development between Egypt and the United Nations.

During the meeting, they discussed the strategic partnership between Egypt and the United Nations and its affiliated agencies, as well as the Ministry of International Cooperation’s role in coordinating with relevant stakeholders in Egypt to form the new strategic framework for the partnership. This comes within the framework of the priorities of “Egypt Kicks Off” 2018/2022, and the government’s efforts in achieving the UN SDGs, namely SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, in addition to the “Decent Life” presidential initiative that aims to achieve inclusive development in rural areas, through developing infrastructure and human capital.

They also tackled Egypt’s preparations to host the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 27); highlighting the Government of Egypt’s efforts across various sectors to mitigate the negative repercussions of climate change, and to regionally lead the green transformation, as well as to consolidate joint cooperation with African countries to curb the effects of climate change.

Al-Mashat referred to the mega projects that the Government of Egypt implements in cooperation with the private sector to achieve development through instilling green cities principles that are based on knowledge and innovation, and through adopting climate action in light of the climate change’s threats on sustainability of the cities and people’s livelihoods; adding that sustainability has become part of all projects implemented by the government, in addition to diversifying green and innovative financing tools to achieve sustainable development.

Al-Mashat stated that smart transportation projects that push forward sustainability of infrastructure are among the top priority projects implemented in cooperation with development partners; noting that there are mega projects that have received development financing from development partners, such as the Cairo Metro project funded by France, in addition to the cooperation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), within the framework of the Green Cities Program. Furthermore, Al-Mashat stated that in light of Egypt's efforts to host the COP27, there is room for further future cooperation between Egypt and the UN Habitat.

For her part, Executive Director and the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, Maimunah Sharif, emphasized the importance of development financing in enhancing sustainability of cities and in providing innovative solutions for the achievement of sustainable development. Maimunah further expressed her aspiration for the cooperation with Egypt in green and sustainable recovery, and to provide the needed support for Egypt while hosting the COP 27.

Moreover, she praised the Ministry of International Cooperation’s Mapping of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) to the SDGs, which identifies the projects implemented within the framework of each sustainability goal; applauding the Government of Egypt’s efforts in empowering women and youth, and in implementing the “Decent Life” presidential initiative, which enhances infrastructure, and improves people’s livelihoods in rural areas.

The Ministry of International Cooperation is the National Coordinator of the United Nations Partnership Development Framework (UNPDF) 2018/2022 and co-chairs the UNPDF Steering Committee with the UN Resident Coordinator Office in Egypt. In 2021, the Ministry of International Cooperation launched the national consultation meetings with the participation of over 30 national entities and relevant ministries, to launch the new strategic partnership framework the Egyptian government and the United Nations in Egypt in the period between 2023 and 2027, to address the main pillars of cooperation during the next five years, and to discuss means of consolidating national priorities through future programs and projects with the UN.