The Minister of International Cooperation Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, participated in the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, in a session titled “Accelerating Progress Towards the SDGs Through Effective Development Cooperation in a Context of Fragility and COVID-19: Progress and Challenges”.
During the session, the minister delivered a keynote speech in the discussion on “Accelerating Actions for the SDGs”.
The United Nations High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development is the UN’s main platform on sustainable development, and it plays a central role in the follow-up, review and implementation of the global 2030 agenda.
The UN HLPF was established in 2012, through the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), "The Future We Want", and it is held annually under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
In her speech, Al-Mashat presented the Government of Egypt’s efforts in international cooperation and development financing; advancing efforts towards the green economy, achieving a comprehensive and sustainable recovery, overcoming the COVID-19 repercussions, enhancing the country’s economic resilience, and pushing for innovative financing mechanisms to promote climate action.
The minister explained Egypt’s experience with the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (GPEDC) to shape the economic cooperation framework through the principles of economic diplomacy. This is to increase the effectiveness, and to accelerate progress towards, the SDGs, taking into account the 2005 Paris Declaration on Effective Development Cooperation, and the 2019 Kampala Principles on strengthening the role of the private sector through international cooperation.
Al-Mashat added that the GPEDC focuses on four main principles: country ownership, focus on results, inclusive partnerships, and transparency and mutual accountability.
Moreover, the minister presented the principles of Economic Diplomacy which include; hosting multi-stakeholder platforms (MSPs), mapping the ODA to the SDGs, and the global partnerships narrative. Through the first pillar, the Egypt is able to maximize the results and impact of development cooperation, as in 2020 and 2021, various MSPs were held on telecommunications, petroleum, supply, SMEs, private sector, and digitalization.
In the second principle on ODA-SDG mapping, this creates a transparent and comprehensive framework for development cooperation by showing the details of the ongoing portfolio of 372 projects (worth $26 billion) are reflected into the SDGs. The interactive map can be found on the Ministry of International Cooperation’s website: https://moic.gov.eg
The results of the ODA-SDG Mapping in 2021, showed that the highest financing was dedicated to SDG 9, SDG 6, and SDG 7. The highest SDG in receiving ODA financing was SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure amounting to $5.9 billion, making up for 22.3% of the portfolio, SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation amounting to $5.3 billion, making up for 20.3% of the portfolio, SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy amounting to $4.6 billion, making up for 17.5% of the portfolio.
Moreover in terms of SDG 13: Climate Action, there are 28 adaptation projects worth $2.85 billion in development financing that include energy efficiency, agriculture, wastewater management, and water desalination, and $7.83 billion in development financing contributing to 46 mitigation projects, which include renewable energy, sustainable cities, and sustainable transport.
The minister stressed that development financing for these priority sectors enhance the resilience of the country’s economy and increase sustainable investments, by focusing on the energy, transport, water and agriculture sectors.
Additionally, this enhances Egypt's regional role, pointing out that the country is taking on ambitious projects, such as sustainable transport with the expansion of dry ports in partnership with the private sector and international financial institutions.
Al-Mashat said that international partnerships also contribute to enhancing food security and value chains in Egypt, through the expansion of modern technology wheat storage projects and increased storage capacity with silos.
In the third principle of economic diplomacy, concerned with the Global Partnerships Narrative, Al-Mashat expressed that this is about promoting Egypt’s development stories by putting People at the Core, Projects in Action, and Purpose as the Driver.
Lastly, theinister spoke about Egypt's preparations to host the COP27, and the measures that have been taken in the launch of the National Climate Change Strategy 2050, in order to enhance the implementation of Egypt's Vision 2030, push climate action, and enhance Egypt's resilience to future shocks.
Al-Mashat also pointed to the recent launch of the “NWFE Program”, aiming to promote a list of national projects in energy, food, and water that would benefit from green investments and private sector engagement.
During the event, Al-Mashat also invited government representatives and international organizations to participate in the 2nd edition of the Egypt - International Cooperation Forum (Egypt - ICF), which will represent an important preliminary gathering, especially for the African Continent, international institutions, and private sector, prior to the COP27.
This will support in unifying visions and discussing views and messages in terms of the role of the international community in advancing the green transformation, confronting climate change, and achieving the SDGs.
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