Int'l Cooperation Min. visits Assiut to oversee regional implementation of sustainable development goals

CAIRO - 20 March 2022: The Minister of International Cooperation, Rania A. Al-Mashat, visits Assiut on Sunday to oversee regional implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

To map out SDG progress and achieve Communication for Development goals (C4D), the Ministry of International Cooperation’s SDG mapping activities includes carrying out field visits to Egypt’s different cities and regions, as incorporating the SDGs into local contexts is essential for the effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

 

Through a country-led engagement framework, the Ministry of International Cooperation’s C4D goals aim to ensure local ownership of services and projects, ensuring that development financing is based on the principle of country ownership. As realities vary from one region to the next, there is also a need to contextualize and accelerate each region’s implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to guarantee the localization of development and bring about the necessary changes for building an inclusive economy. 

 

During her visit, the Minister of International Cooperation, the Ambassador of Netherlands in Cairo, Han-Maurits Schaapveld, will witness the graduation ceremony of the second round of the Upper Egypt Orange Corners Program to support innovative and creatively driven entrepreneurs in Upper Egypt, which is implemented in cooperation with the Netherlands and in partnership with ALEXBANK.

 

On the occasion of women’s month in March, the Minister and Major General Essam Saad, Governor of Assiut, will oversee the STEM schools project in Assiut, funded by the USAID, which aims to increase advanced training and careers in STEM fields for girls, and to increase scientific literacy among young girls and the Assiut population. 

 

Climate-Smart Through International Partnerships

 

Promoting climate-smart infrastructure in Assiut through international partnerships, the Minister will oversee the New Assiut Barrage project, which was completed last year in cooperation with Germany, covering an area of 650 thousand feddans.

 

As hydropower contributes significantly to the avoidance of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and to the mitigation of climate change, the Minister will oversee the new Assiut hydroelectric power station, which is also implemented in cooperation with Germany to push Egypt towards a green transformation by reducing carbon emissions by 147 thousand tons annually.

 

The Minister will also visit the Assiut Potable Water and Sanitation Company funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which aims to upgrade water and wastewater facilities in underserved cities and rural areas using low-maintenance technologies and local contractors, serving 180,000 beneficiaries. 

 

The Ministry of International Cooperation’s ongoing development cooperation portfolio includes 372 projects worth $26.5 billion in a variety of sectors, prioritizing an inclusive, green and digital economy.