As Egypt and the United Nations celebrate 80 years of partnership, the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation joined the UN team in Egypt on September 13 for a field visit to Qena governorate to highlight joint projects aimed at driving sustainable local development.
The visit was led by Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat, alongside UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt Elena Panova, Qena Governor Khaled Abdel Aal, and representatives of UN agencies and development partners.
The tour began at Al-Nidaa Foundation, where Minister Al-Mashat laid the foundation stone for a silk production facility supported by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the ministry, and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation.
During a conference held in Qena, the minister underscored the importance of Egypt’s longstanding partnership with the UN, noting that Upper Egypt remains a government priority with EGP 65 billion allocated in the current fiscal year.
She highlighted the role of UNDP, UN-Habitat, the World Food Programme (WFP), and other partners in delivering projects that support economic empowerment, sustainable agriculture, and community development.
Among the projects showcased was the Hamidat Water Treatment Plant, developed under the UN-Habitat’s “Innovation in Drinking Water and Sanitation” initiative, and craft workshops run by Al-Nidaa Foundation with support from EBank to boost women’s employment in copper and textile production. These projects aim to empower more than 150 women and expand annual output of handicrafts.
UN Resident Coordinator (UNRC) Elena Panova said the visit demonstrated how multilateral partnerships are producing tangible results in Upper Egypt. “We are proud that our work is creating green jobs, empowering women, supporting farmers and entrepreneurs, and opening new avenues for sustainable tourism and economic growth,” she said.
The delegation also visited the ancient Dendera Temple, where a new partnership agreement was signed between UNDP and UN-Habitat to promote sustainable rural and cultural tourism in Qena. The initiative seeks to link cultural heritage with local economic opportunities, creating a model for rural tourism that can be replicated elsewhere in Egypt.
Other projects presented included UNIDO’s Inclusive Growth Project, which supports small and medium enterprises in green and circular economy sectors, and WFP initiatives that strengthen the resilience of smallholder farmers through climate-smart agriculture, supported by the Dutch government.
Officials stressed that these initiatives reflect Egypt’s vision of harnessing international partnerships to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while addressing local priorities in Upper Egypt, a region central to the country’s inclusive growth strategy.
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