Planning Ministry, NIGSD launch Development Ambassadors initiative

CAIRO – 2 NOVEMBER 2020: Egypt’s Ministry of Planning and Economic Development has, in partnership with the National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development (NIGSD), launched the Development Ambassadors initiative, under the title "Be an Ambassador".

Hala El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, said the initiative aims to spread the culture of comprehensive and equitable sustainable development. It also looks to provide Egyptian youth with the skills to apply the foundations of comprehensive and integrated development.

This will take place through various productive and service activities and areas, with the aim of improving the standard of living of the Egyptian citizen.

The ministry invites young people in the 18-35 age-group to apply and join the initiative, with the deadline for applications set for 14 November.

El-Said said that the Development Ambassadors initiative is a capacity building initiative that aims to spread the culture of sustainability among all segments of Egyptian society.

She also said that the Development Ambassadors initiative will start with training young university graduates, school graduates and scouts, with about 500 young men and women to be selected in the first stage. These participants will receive free training as part of the programme.

Each trainee will be given a NIGSD accredited certificate, to become ambassadors for sustainable development in their societies.

El-Said called on young people to participate in the initiative, to qualify as a main source for spreading awareness on sustainable development and implementing its goals. They will also become leaders of the future, and the hope on which the nation and partners in the development process rests.

For her part, NIGSD Executive Director Sherifa Sherif announced that the deadline for applications is 14 November, provided that the submitted applications are sorted. The selected applicants will receive answers by the end of November.

She said that the evaluation committee consists of representatives from concerned ministries, in addition to development partners from the private sector, civil society and academics, who will vet candidacy applications.

Sherif confirmed that the evaluation process is based mainly on the quality of the candidate’s application and their skills or previous experience. It will also take into account geographical distribution, gender, and the proportion of people with special needs.

She explained that the training programme presented during the initiative will include varied training, including: introducing the concept of sustainable development; patterns of development; a background on the development of environmental thought in the modern era; and the United Nations (UN) Millennium Development Goals.

Participants in the programme will also receive training on: the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs); the green and circular economies as a means to achieve sustainable development; the basic axes for achieving sustainable development; and Egypt’s sustainable development priorities and their relationship to the UN’s SDGs. There will be added input on the challenges and opportunities, and enabling policies to achieve sustainable development in Egypt.

Sherif said that the training process will tkae place through direct meetings with the trainees, taking into account the necessary instructions to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). It will be ensured that the number of participants in each training course does not exceed a specified number, with training to also occur through virtual meetings.

The conditions for applying to join the initiative include: the age of the applicant ranges from 18 to 35 years; the applicant has a general background in sustainable development and its importance; and that the applicant is a student at a public or private university in Egypt, or a graduate whose field of work is related to sustainable development.

The conditions also included that the applicant must have participated in volunteer activities or in the Students' Union or simulation models for a period of not less than two years. Graduates must also show their final grade is not less than good.

Applicants must show they have a number of skills such as: the ability to speak in front of an audience; research; critical thinking; forming a network of relationships and good communication with colleagues; working in a team; and enjoy leadership traits. A knowledge of English or French is also preferred.

To apply to join the initiative, interested applicants can go to the following link: https://bit.ly/3eeP9y2