Cairo: H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, attended the inception workshop for the preparation of Egypt’s Human Development Report 2025, organized by the Ministry in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), with the participation of Dr. Ashraf Elaraby, President of the National Planning Institute, Dr. Maged Othman, President of Baseera Center for Public Opinion Research, Mr. Alessandro Fracassetti, UNDP Resident Representative in Egypt, Dr. Ahmed Darwish, Advisor to the Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation for Governance and Information Infrastructure, a number of experts, and representatives from national entities and civil society, including the National Council for Women, the American University in Cairo, the Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights, the Sawiris Foundation for Development, and the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).
According to State Information Service Egypt, discussions began among stakeholders during the inception workshop to prepare the Egypt Human Development Report 2025. This process is framed as a participatory approach involving relevant parties, emphasizing the state’s commitment to the report, which assesses the state of development in Egypt considering regional and international conditions, development gaps, and human development issues.
H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat highlighted the significance of the Egypt Human Development Report 2025 in her opening speech, noting that it serves as a vital tool for objectively analyzing human development at the national level. The report measures progress in education, health, living standards, and the Human Development Index in Egypt, offering policy recommendations amidst global challenges that affect developing countries’ financial capabilities and development efforts.
Al-Mashat further stated that Egypt’s human development reports have historically influenced decision-making and policy circles positively, fostering societal dialogue on human development issues. The reports ensure transparency in addressing these issues and identifying medium and long-term development gaps.
The Minister also noted that this will be the 13th report in Egypt’s series of national human development reports, which began in 1994. The involvement of the Baseera Center, an independent think tank with expertise in developmental areas, underscores the government’s commitment to leveraging diverse expertise. The resumption of human development reports in 2021, after a decade, indicates Egypt’s dedication to discussing and evaluating its development experience with national stakeholders and international partners.
H.E. affirmed that the report’s preparation will integrate with national initiatives like the “Decent Life Initiative,” “Bedaya Initiative,” “100 Million Health,” Egypt’s Vision 2030, and others. These initiatives focus on human capital investment and improving citizens’ lives. The government has launched ministerial groups targeting industrial development, human development, and entrepreneurship to boost growth and employment.
Mr. Alessandro Fracassetti, UNDP Resident Representative in Egypt, stated that HDRs are not just about data analysis but serve as a national, inclusive dialogue platform based on citizens’ priorities. The report offers a chance to reimagine Egypt’s development amid global technological and climate changes.
Dr. Magid Osman of the Baseera Center presented the report’s methodology, emphasizing that the current report will build on findings from previous reports to advance Egypt’s development efforts.
Dr. Ashraf Elaraby, President of the Institute of National Planning, described the Institute’s role as a key partner in preparing human development reports. The report provides recommendations supporting Egypt’s development efforts and serves as an essential reference for decision-makers, researchers, and academics, reflecting cooperation with various stakeholders.
The Egypt Human Development Report 2025 builds on the 2021 report titled “Development, a Right for All: Egypt’s Pathways and Prospects.” This earlier report reviewed Egypt’s development process from 2011 to 2020, analyzing key human development issues impacting the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the policies implemented during this period.