H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, met with Mr. Alessandro Fracassetti, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Egypt, to discuss strengthening cooperation, in the presence of the technical teams from both sides.
This comes within the framework of the ongoing meetings held with multilateral and bilateral development partners to discuss cooperation priorities post merging the Planning and Economic Development and International Cooperation portfolios. The focus of the meetings include enhancing economic development efforts through effective evidence-based policies, and creating integration between the country programmes and strategies of development partners, as well as the public investment spending priorities.
Egypt – UNSDCF 2023-2027
The meeting discussed joint programmes and projects within the Egypt – UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023 – 2027, efforts to support priority sectors suc
h as health, food security, social protection, SMEs, innovation and digital transformation, addressing climate change, and other areas..
Moreover, they discussed the 2025 Human Development Report (HDR), the second version of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) localization reports in the governorates that will be launched soon, enhancing South-South and Triangular Cooperation, the National Integrated Strategy for Financing SDGs in Egypt, and the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects.
During the meeting, Al-Mashat noted that the UNDP is one of the Government of Egypt’s main strategic partners across many areas that enhance comprehensive and sustainable economic development efforts; within the framework of the Egypt – UNSDCF 2023 -2027.
H.E. stressed the importance of a unified framework with development partners that combines the pillars of international cooperation, public investment and economic development.
National Integrated Strategy for Financing SDGs in Egypt
In the meeting, the Ministe
r discussed opportunities regarding the localization of SDGs, referring to the current preparations for launching the second phase of SDGs localization reports in the governorates. This aims to set quantitative targets for SDGs indicators at a governorate level, thus contributing to identifying development gaps for each governorate and determining priorities for the government. Work is currently underway to complete the second edition of the reports in cooperation with the UNDP.
Human Development Report
Al-Mashat pointed out the government’s commitment to publishing the Human Development Report 2025, as it helps identify development gaps and provides an objective view of the state of development in Egypt. To date, and as the first country in the MENA region, Egypt has 12 editions of the Human Development Report. This report represents a major pillar of cooperation with the UNDP to review and analyze development policies and issues in Egypt.
Structural Reforms to Empower the Private Sector
Al-Mashat emphas
ized the pillars of the structural reform program that the government is implementing in cooperation with local and international development partners, stressing that implementing these pillars contributes to enhancing economic development efforts.
They also discussed preparations for the Summit of the Future, to be held during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly this September, as well as arrangements for joint side events.
Moreover, Al-Mashat and Fracassetti discussed enhancing cooperation to accelerate the progress towards the SDGs, as well as supporting the Egyptian economy via several mechanisms that promote job creation, reduce unemployment, and reduce poverty rates, in response to the government’s priorities for human capital development. This is in addition to enhancing national capacities regarding the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), Carbon Taxonomy mechanisms, and other tools that enhance climate action on a national level.
The Minister reviewed the upcoming priorit
ies within the framework of the partnership with UNDP, stressing the importance of enhancing South-South and Triangular Cooperation, as the program represents an important regional platform to highlight Egypt’s leading experience in many fields.
Regarding the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects, Al-Mashat explained that the initiative is being implemented across governorates to unlock solutions and develop a map at the governorate level for smart green projects, achieve their sustainability, and attract investments and the necessary funding sources for them. H.E. emphasized the importance of cooperation to support the initiative in its next session, along with the importance of an in-depth view that can measure the impact of the initiative and its role in implementing the SDGs.
Ongoing Portfolio
The Minister also discussed developments in the ongoing development cooperation portfolio between ministries and national entities in Egypt and the UNDP, which includes 45 projects and programmes under imp
lementation in: climate action, adaptation and mitigation, SMEs, digital transformation and ICT, governance and institutional capacity development, and the health sector.
South-South and Triangular Cooperation
The meeting highlighted the efforts of the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation and the UNDP to exchange development expertise and experiences within the framework of South-South and Triangular Cooperation, in a way that enhances the capabilities of developing countries and stimulates the use of successful development practices, as the two sides launched Cairo South-South Development Academy (CSSDA). The academy is the first integrated entity in the Middle East and Africa region as part of the Global South-South Development (GSSD) Academy; a global platform that facilitates the exchange of experiences, development solutions and knowledge documentation among countries of the South in various fields.
Source: State Information Service Egypt