Egypt Confronts Population Challenges with Ambitious Initiatives, Says Panova

Marking World Population Day, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Egypt Elena Panova praised the country’s proactive measures to address complex population dynamics, highlighting national initiatives such as “Mawadda” and “Bedaya” as critical tools for empowering citizens and fostering sustainable development.

In her address at a ceremony attended by Egypt’s Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development and Minister of Health and Population, government officials, UN partners, and youth representatives, the UN official underscored that population trends are shaped not only by policies but also by deeply personal decisions about family and parenthood.

“We are living through a moment of deep fragility. Around the world, crises are compounding and feeding off each other, from armed conflicts to the accelerating climate crisis,” she noted. “In this landscape, certainty has become a luxury, and business as usual is a risk we can no longer afford.”

Despite global challenges, she described Egypt as a powerful example of forward-looking leadership. “Through the Presidential Initiative Bedaya, the government is advancing human development with a bold commitment to education, health, social protection, and job creation,” she said, linking these efforts to Egypt’s Vision 2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Panova pointed to findings from Egypt’s national studies, including the 2021 Egypt Family Health Survey (EFHS), which reflect a “real fertility crisis”—not of sheer numbers but of “unmet hopes,” as economic uncertainty, social norms, and gender inequality hinder many Egyptians from realizing their reproductive aspirations.

However, Egypt is responding with practical interventions. Initiatives like Mawadda aim to provide families with knowledge and support for informed reproductive choices, while economic resilience strategies underpin the sustainability of large-scale programs like Bedaya.

“Reproductive rights are not just about individual dignity; they are key to sustainable development, national progress, and social stability,” the UN Resident Coordinator emphasized.

She reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to working alongside Egypt, noting that the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework is fully aligned with Egypt’s Vision 2030, supporting efforts to build human capital, promote gender equality, and strengthen governance.

Highlighting the importance of collaboration, she pointed to a Memorandum of Understanding to be signed between the National Population Council and the Ministry of Local Development as a model of inter-ministerial cooperation essential for delivering change at the grassroots level.

In a message to Egypt’s youth, she concluded: “You are not mere observers of Egypt’s development; you are its co-creators, shaping tomorrow with every decision you make. We trust that our collective efforts will empower every Egyptian to shape the future they deserve—and light the way toward a world where choice is free, every voice matters, and no one is left behind.”

World Population Day, observed annually on July 11, serves as a global call to raise awareness of population issues and their links to sustainable development, health, and human rights.