Egypt, UN-Habitat Mark 20 Years of Partnership on Sustainable Urban Development

Egypt’s General Organization for Physical Planning (GOPP) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) on Wednesday marked 20 years of strategic cooperation that has helped shape the country’s urban development policies and strengthen planning systems nationwide.

The anniversary was commemorated during a press conference held at UN-Habitat’s headquarters in Cairo under the theme “Two Decades of Sustainable Urban Development,” highlighting joint efforts that have supported integrated planning at the national, regional and local levels.

Over the past two decades, the partnership has delivered a wide range of strategic projects, most notably the preparation of urban strategic plans for small cities and cities with special characteristics. More than 75 strategic urban development plans have been completed and approved using participatory planning approaches, contributing to improved service delivery, better infrastructure planning, reduced unplanned urban expansion and enhanced quality of life in Egyptian cities.

Community engagement has been a central pillar of the cooperation, with more than 165 public consultation sessions held during the planning process in coordination with local authorities and development partners.

At the national level, the collaboration played a key role in drafting Egypt’s National Urban Policy, which serves as a guiding framework for balanced and sustainable urban growth in line with Egypt Vision 2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The policy focuses on addressing urban challenges, promoting integrated and participatory planning, improving quality of life, strengthening local governance and advancing spatial justice, while establishing mechanisms to translate policies into implementable programs.

Among the flagship initiatives is the Greater Cairo Region Planning and Development Support project, which addressed the complex challenges facing one of the largest metropolitan areas in the Middle East. The project produced 45 plans, projects and studies across six main pillars, including heritage and historic area revitalization, urban development of cities and centers, Nile islands development, environmental sustainability, local administration support and capacity building.

As part of the partnership, more than 1,000 engineers and urban planners from national and local institutions have received training in urban planning tools, digital transformation, geographic information systems and land management, alongside the participation of over 300 national and international experts and consultants.

Another milestone is the Integrated Urban Development project “Hayyina,” which linked planning with implementation in three areas in Damietta and Qena governorates. The project has been shortlisted for the 2025 UN Secretary-General’s Award for Digital Transformation and Innovation, making it the only Egyptian nomination across all award categories, the sole Arab entry in the digital transformation and innovation category, and the only UN-Habitat project worldwide shortlisted at both the regional and international levels this year.

The partnership has also supported Egypt’s active participation in successive editions of the World Urban Forum since 2002, including the 12th session hosted in Cairo in 2024, as well as cooperation in preparing voluntary national reports on the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, helping present Egypt’s urban development experience on international platforms.

In her remarks, Dr. Eng. Maha Fahim, Chairperson of GOPP, said the cooperation began at a time when Egypt was reassessing its urban development approach and seeking people-centered planning models that balance economic, social, environmental and spatial dimensions. She stressed that the partnership’s defining feature has been its focus on translating planning into executable programs aligned with national economic and social policies, particularly in underserved areas.

In turn, Ahmed Rizk, UN-Habitat Representative in Egypt, said the long-standing partnership reflects the programme’s commitment to supporting Egypt’s urban development priorities, noting that it has helped turn urban policies and plans into tangible interventions that enhance city resilience, improve living conditions and advance the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 11 on sustainable cities and communities.

Both sides said the next phase of cooperation will include new joint projects aimed at strengthening the role of cities in achieving regional balance and supporting urban development initiatives across Africa, in line with Egypt’s national orientations.

The partners reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration toward building more inclusive, resilient and sustainable cities, in line with UN-Habitat’s mandate to lead global efforts on sustainable urbanization and support implementation of the New Urban Agenda.