Al-Mashat Discusses Pillars of New Country Program with UNFPA

The Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat held a meeting with Frederica Mayer, representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Egypt, in the presence of the work teams from both the Ministry and the UNFPA.

During the meeting, they reviewed the ongoing development cooperation portfolio and discussed the roadmap and main proposals going forward within the strategic partnership with the UN from 2023/2027.

Al-Mashat explained that the new country program 2023/2027 comes within the strategic framework of the partnership between Egypt and the United Nations, in support of the country’s development efforts to progress towards the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Al-Mashat applauded the role of the UN and its affiliated agencies in supporting the government’s priorities for achieving sustainable development through the 2018/2022 partnership development framework.

Al-Mashat also commended the UN’s efforts in supporting the Government of Egypt’s COVID-19 emergency response plan in 2020 in combating the health crisis, particularly the role of the UNFPA as a strategic partner in implementing national policies such as the National Population Strategy (2015/2030) and the National Strategy to combat Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) (2014/2018).

[caption id="attachment_293583" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat held a meeting with Frederica Mayer, representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Egypt[/caption]

Al-Mashat added that the national consultations of the country program with the UNFPA for 2023/2027 will witness the participation of all relevant entities to reflect national priorities, particularly in terms of gender equality, empowering youth, combatting discrimiation and violence against girls and women. The consultations will also ensure the inclusion of all necessary groups in development efforts, especially to face the challenges of population growth and to enhance economic and social opportunities.

Addressing the close relations between Egypt and the UN, Al-Mashat expressed that the Ministry of International Cooperation is responsible for supervising the United Nations Partnership Development Framework, and to develop the roadmap for future plans from 2023/2027. With the aim of setting a clear line of action with the current government program, this is also in accordance with the country’s Egypt Action Programme 2018/2022 and Egypt’s 2030 Vision, encompassing the UN SDGs, and based on the achievements made from the current strategic framework between Egypt and the UN.

The Ministry of International Cooperation follows a participatory approach in preparing country strategies with all multilateral and bilateral development partners. There are several currently ongoing strategies being prepared, including the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Investment Bank (EIB), and the African Development Bank (AfDB) in order to maximize the impact of development cooperation and development financing to support the 2030 Vision. This falls within the country’s aim to improve the lives of citizens through the “Decent Life” Presidential Initiative, to protect natural resources for sustainability, and to develop human capital and investment; all while promoting transparency, agile governance, inclusive partnerships, productivity, employment and the empowerment of women.

During the meeting, they also discussed the new pillars of the new country program with the UNFPA, reviewed the Government of Egypt’s priorities and national initiatives, including the “Decent Life”, and addressed ways to stimulate private sector engagement in development efforts and in the digital transformation to support innovative solution and population challenges.

Al-Mashat also stressed the Government of Egypt’s keenness in improving the quality of life by reducing population growth rates and increasing economic growth.

For her part, Frederica Mayer, the UNFPA’s representative in Egypt, applauded the role of the Ministry of International Cooperation in coordinating and supporting consultation on the upcoming country partnership programs in cooperation with the relevant entities. Mayer also pointed out that the country has made notable efforts in progress towards the SDGs across governorates, in creating job opportunities, and in achieving a decent life for citizens. In that light, the UN and its agencies are working jointly to promote programs in line with the “Decent Life” initiative.

Referring to the recent UNFPA’s launch of a new initiative titled “Noura”, a symbol of young girls in Egypt, Meyer said that societies achieve greater progress when its women are empowered.

It is worth noting that the Ministry of International Cooperation launched the national consultation meetings in preparation of the United Nations Partnership Development Framework (UNPDF) for 2023/2027, with the aim of exchanging views, defining the main priorities for cooperation for the next 5 years, and strengthening national priorities through upcoming programs and projects with the UN and its agencies.

The Ministry of International Cooperation is supervising the implementation of the current UNPDF for 2018/2022, and chairs the steering committee of the framework alongside Egypt’s UN Resident Coordinator. This includes several working groups; Inclusive Economic Development, Social Justice, Environmental Sustainability and Natural Resource Management, and Women's Empowerment.