The Egyptian Cabinet’s Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC) held a workshop in cooperation with UNICEF to discuss the findings of a policy paper on mapping child-related data in Egypt and assessing the impact of existing data gaps on public policy.
The event comes as part of ongoing collaboration between the two sides to strengthen evidence-based decision-making in areas of shared interest.
The workshop, hosted at IDSC’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital, brought together Dr. Osama El-Gohary, Assistant to the Prime Minister and Head of IDSC; Nathalie Meyer, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Egypt; Prof. Fatma El-Zanaty, Professor of Statistics at Cairo University’s Faculty of Economics and Political Science; along with representatives from government bodies, civil society, and researchers from the center.
In his address, El-Gohary said the center prioritizes engaging distinguished scientific expertise when preparing policy papers, which undergo a rigorous double-blind external review to ensure recommendations are both evidence-based and applicable in practice.
He stressed that improving the availability and quality of child-related data is vital because it directly concerns “building the Egyptian citizen.” Such data, he noted, is not merely numerical indicators but a reflection of the soundness of state policies, the fairness of service distribution nationwide, and the foundations of long-term planning in education, health, and social protection. Accurate information, he said, is essential for safeguarding children’s rights and ensuring a healthy environment for their development.
El-Gohary added that continuing efforts to secure precise data on children will enhance resource allocation, prevent crises, and guarantee access to essential services for all groups within a framework of governance, monitoring, and evaluation. Given the sensitivity of data related to children’s well-being, he said ensuring its quality is a national priority that requires sustained cooperation so that every Egyptian child receives proper care and a dignified life.
Prof. Fatma El-Zanaty said that assessing the status of children depends fundamentally on comprehensive data across sectors such as education, health, care, and protection. Preparing national reports on children’s conditions requires accurate indicators at the national and sub-national levels, she said, to enable targeted programs that improve children’s lives and well-being.
She emphasized the need for continued, coordinated efforts to establish a national strategy aligned with Egypt’s National Strategy for Childhood and Motherhood and Vision 2030, supported by periodic national surveys and studies.
In turn, UNICEF Deputy Representative Nathalie Meyer praised the strong partnership between UNICEF and IDSC, reaffirming the organization’s commitment to working with the center and national stakeholders to strengthen institutional capacities and build a robust, sustainable data ecosystem. She reiterated the need to promote data governance and greater integration across systems to ensure timely, accurate, and disaggregated information that enables effective interventions and close monitoring of children’s conditions.
Meyer continued that UNICEF looks forward to working jointly with IDSC to reinforce data systems that support better outcomes for Egypt’s children.
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