Egypt coordinates with UN to develop a full, integrated vision for all future projects: Mashat

CAIRO - 20 January 2022: Minister of International Cooperation Rania A. Al-Mashat held a meeting with Ms. Elena Panova, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Egypt, and Antonio Vigilante, International Consultant and the former Resident Coordinator in Egypt for the UN and the UNDP, to discuss the strategic partnership between the United Nations and Egypt, through the Ministry of International Cooperation, and to establish an integrated approach for the United Nations interventions with the Government of Egypt, within the framework of the ‘Decent Life’ presidential initiative. 

 

This meeting comes within the framework of Vigilante’s visit to Egypt, to start the consultations between the UN agencies and the Government of Egypt, with the aim of setting priorities of the next phase, within the framework of the development cooperation projects that shall be implemented within the framework of the ‘Decent Life’ presidential initiative, and as part of the strategic cooperation between both sides, as well as the Ministry of International Corporation's role as the national coordinator, for monitoring the strategic framework of the partnership between Egypt and the United Nations.

 

Minister Al Mashat stated that the Ministry of International Cooperation works on coordinating development efforts with the United Nations, and all the development partners, to establish their vision and steps of implementation of projects that come as part of the presidential initiative. H.E. further noted that this is within the framework of the fruitful and strategic cooperation between Egypt and the United Nations, through the UN Partnership Development Framework (UNPDF) from 2023 to 2027, and through supporting national efforts that are aimed towards achieving inclusive development in Egypt’s rural areas through the Decent Life initiative.

 

The meeting encompassed discussions about the importance of the ‘Decent Life’ initiative, which Egypt aims through to achieve inclusive development in rural areas and to improve the people’s livelihoods, as it benefits more than half of Egypt’s total population. Minister Al-Mashat referred to the follow-up meeting held by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, with development partners last October, where they discussed potential areas of cooperation as integral pillars of the country’s future strategies.

 

Al-Mashat further applauded the strategic partnership between Egypt and the United Nations, which extends for decades, through which it has achieved positive results and has been pushing forward the government’s development efforts across various fields, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic; stressing her confidence that the current discussions come within the framework of the new partnership.

 

For her part, Elena Panova, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Egypt, stated that the United Nations is an important opportunity that contributes to achieving the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, on the regional and global levels; noting that the UN takes part in the development of the Decent Life’s villages, through over 400 ongoing activities that are directed to over 1.4 million beneficiaries. 
 

Panova elaborated that the UN and Egypt have started on the preparations for the UN Partnership Development Framework for Egypt (UNPDF) 2023/2027, through which the Decent Life initiative has been outlined as the key areas of cooperation that advance Egypt’s Vision 2030 and the UN’s SDGs.
 

During the meeting, Antonio Vigilante, International Consultant and the former Resident Coordinator in Egypt for the UN and the UNDP, presented his plan during his official mission in Egypt, which encompassed monitoring the UN’s interventions with regards to the Decent Life initiative, through the future filed visits to some rural areas that fall within the initiative, as well as the discussions with the relevant authorities on the effective cooperation within the UNPDF.

 

This is in addition to the current discussion with the UN’s country team on the alignment of current and future development programs as part of the Decent Life initiative, and with the participation of the civil society, the private sector, and bilateral and multilateral development partners.

 

Moreover, they also tackled identifying the proposed investment projects within the Decent Life initiative, and the means of securing the development financing for implementation. Minister Al-Mashat presented the Ministry of International Cooperation’s 2021 Annual Report titled “Engaging For Impact Towards Our Common Future:  International Partnerships for Sustainable Development” that detailed the development financing secured from bilateral and multilateral development partners, and International Financial Institutions (IFIs), through the Ministry’s doctrine of Economic Diplomacy. Noting that the report also outlines the projects financed from developmemnt partners that pave the way for the achievement of sustainable development; benefiting people. 

 

 

Al-Mashat also spotlighted the Decent Life initiative, which was also outlined in the annual report; shedding light on the Ministry of International Cooperation’s launched movie on the initiative, which is the first English movie on the Decent Life presidential initiative.

 

Last December, Rania A. Al-Mashat, and the United Nations, held a meeting on the results and updates of the UN Partnership Development Framework (UNPDF)- the strategic cooperation framework between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United Nations for 2018-2022. This took place with the participation of over 75 representatives of the United Nations affiliated agencies, ministers, and relevant stakeholders. During that meeting, the UN’s role in implementing projects as part of the Decent Life initiative was discussed, as well as the proposed future plan for implementation. 

 

The UNPDF, launched in 2006 with the Ministry of International Cooperation as co-chair, represents the UN’s cooperation framework with the Government of Egypt. Last May, Minister Al-Mashat and Ms.Panova launched a roadmap for the new strategic framework UNPDF (2023-2027), which aims to support the government’s efforts in implementing economic,  social and environmental development; supporting efforts towards achieving sustainable development.

 

The Ministry’s 2021 annual report, detailed that the total development financing in 2021 amounts to $10.2 billion including $8.7 billion directed to public sector development and $1.57 billion directed to private sector development.