Egypt & UN Deepen Collaboration on Sustainable Development

Egypt's Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation recently hosted a series of crucial technical coordination meetings as part of the ongoing Egypt-UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). These meetings, chaired by the Ministry, represent a significant effort to prepare for the upcoming annual sessions of the Joint Steering Committee, which plays a central role in overseeing the strategic partnership between Egypt and the United Nations.

During these meetings, national stakeholders and key ministry representatives came together to discuss the governance framework and the activities of the results groups. These groups are tasked with implementing various projects in collaboration with specialized UN agencies. The discussions also highlighted the joint work plans for 2024, reviewed the progress made so far, and tackled any challenges encountered along the way. Additionally, the meetings focused on identifying the main topics to be addressed in the upcoming annual discussions.

Participants included representatives from several essential ministries and agencies. The Ministries of Health and Population and Social Solidarity, which co-chair the results group dedicated to enhancing human capital, were in attendance alongside the Ministry of Finance, which co-chairs the green and inclusive economic development group. The Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, co-chairs of the group focused on enhancing resilience to climate change, also participated. Additionally, representatives from the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), the National Council for Women, and the Ministry of Labor, who co-chair the results group on empowering women and girls, were present.

The Egypt-UNSDCF is the primary framework that aligns United Nations development activities with Egypt’s national development efforts. This framework reflects the deep and longstanding partnership between Egypt and the United Nations, dating back to Egypt’s membership in the UN in 1945. The cooperation framework is guided by a governance structure jointly led by Egypt’s Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation and the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Egypt. This structure includes relevant national authorities and UN agencies, working collaboratively through results groups to monitor and evaluate the implementation of various development projects. These groups are crucial in ensuring that the initiatives under the framework effectively contribute to Egypt’s sustainable development goals.

The strategic framework focuses on integrating key development outputs and results into Egypt’s broader national agenda. This includes fostering human capital, promoting sustainable and inclusive economic development, enhancing climate resilience and efficient resource management, ensuring transparency and accountability in governance, and empowering women and girls. In March, the Ministry convened the first meeting of the Joint Steering Committee for the Egypt-UNSDCF. During this meeting, the heads of the results groups reviewed progress across the framework's five pillars, noting that development cooperation programs and interventions worth $178 million had been successfully implemented.

As Egypt and the United Nations continue to deepen their collaboration, these technical coordination meetings play a vital role in ensuring the success of the UNSDCF. This partnership is essential for advancing Egypt’s sustainable development agenda, further solidifying the country’s leadership role in regional and global development efforts.