United Nations in Egypt

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Press Release

22 May 2022

THE SECRETARY GENERAL -- MESSAGE ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

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Press Release

18 May 2022

The Secretary-General's remarks on the release of the WMO State of the Climate - 18 May 2022

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Press Release

17 May 2022

Nearly half of all pregnancies are unintended—a global crisis, says new UNFPA report

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Latest

Press Release

22 May 2022

THE SECRETARY GENERAL -- MESSAGE ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

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Press Release

18 May 2022

The Secretary-General's remarks on the release of the WMO State of the Climate - 18 May 2022

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Press Release

17 May 2022

Nearly half of all pregnancies are unintended—a global crisis, says new UNFPA report

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The Sustainable Development Goals in Egypt

The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Egypt:

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30 May 2021

Egypt, UN review 2020 achievements, discuss upcoming development cooperation plans

The National Joint Steering Committee responsible for overseeing the implementation of the United National Partnership Development Framework (UNPDF 2018-2022) met on Sunday to review 2020 achievements against national development priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals and to discuss upcoming development cooperation plans. Held at the premises of the Ministry of International Cooperation, the meeting was convened by H.E. Dr. Rania El-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation and Ms. Elena Panova, UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt who together co-chaired this group meeting to review the UN’s contribution during 2020 to sustainable development in both the COVID-19 response as well as across the pillars of the UNPDF: Economic Inclusive Growth ‘Prosperity’, Social Justice “People”, Environmental Sustainability and Natural Resource Management “Planet” and Women's Empowerment “Women”. Despite the challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020, the UN system in Egypt in collaboration with the Government of Egypt (GoE) were committed to progress with their development plan with the aim of advancing and accelerating their commitments towards the achievement of the the sustainable development goals within Egypt’s Vision 2030 and acted swiftly to readjust the joint programms to respond to the emergent situation and to support a better recovery. With a special focus on the ‘Economic Inclusive Growth’ pillar that is co-chaired by the Ministry of Planning and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the UN in Egypt has partnered with the Egyptian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (MSMEDA) to facilitate the provision of financial and capacity building services, launched a national survey about the national Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises MSMEs conducted in collaboration with MSMEDA, the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) and established the Dairy Hubs in Al-Gharbia Governorate Project, which executed by ILO in cooperation with the Ministry of International Cooperation. On the ‘Social Justice’ pillar that is co-chaired by the Ministry of Social Justice and UNICEF, the UN in Egypt supported the development of the national Action Plan for Ending Violence Against Children and National Child Protection Case Management Standard Operating Procedures (incl. children on the move, protection in emergencies) and the development and implementation of the new Universal Health Insurance Law. Children and their families receiving cash assistance as an alternative to school meals (due to school closures In addition, technical assistance was provided to expand Social Protection Schemes. Targeted interventions addressed migrants and refugees who received nutrition assistance and health services, improving access to fresh water to households , youth and adolescents engaged in youth-led initiatives in their communities, health staff trained through on-line sessions on key topics related to COVID-19 and Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) were supplied for front line health workers. Focusing on the ‘Environmental Sustainability’ pillar co-chaired by the Ministry of Environment and the World Food Programme (WFP) , 2020 witnessed the launch of the National housing strategy, drafted the National urban policy, updated the Sustainable Agriculture Development Strategy (SADS), the revision of the environmental law was supported and the joint UN assessment of the impact of COVID-19 on agriculture, food and nutrition security in Egypt. Multiple programs addressed small holders’ farmers who got trained on climate change adaptation measures. A huge support to the promotion of eco-tourism through the presidential three- year initiative “Live Green” as well as financing projects that works on promoting solar thermal technology in industrial sector. Moreover, there were lot of activities that targted companies to adopt green and circular measures/systems, extended the services of “El Mufeed” digital agriculture and launched of “Our health is our capital” campaign. And on the ‘Women's Empowerment’ pillar co-chaired by the National Council from Women (NCW), UN Women and International Migration Organization (IOM) , the UN System in Egypt supported wide range of national policies including the development of the National Action Plan of FGM and the drafting process of the National Action Plan on the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security is being extensively supported. The National Review of Gender Statistics was completed and Line ministries statistical units capacitated on gender sensitization and statistics. The support provided to women through the Women’s Citizenship Initiative, obtaining national identification documents and gain access to services. The development of the Action Plan for the Gender Unit at the Ministry of Manpower. In addition, Knocking Door Campaign on elimination of FGM implemented by the National Council of Women (NCW) was supported . Interventions to advocate for adopting gender inclusive policies in private sector companies was carried out. In addition, women’s financial inclusion programme was launched, a rapid gender assessment on social and health impacts of COVID-19 on women living with HIV and a rapid assessment on the impact of COVID-19 on women receiving microloans were carried out and the maternal health care staff trained through online training workshops on improved quality of HIV testing among pregnant women. Minister of International Cooperation, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, praised the strategic partnership with the United Nations in Egypt, explaining that the United Nations in Egypt and its affiliated agencies and programs have always had a strategic role in supporting the state’s priorities in various fields to enhance national efforts aimed at achieving development, and in 2020 during the Corona pandemic, relations between the United Nations and Egypt witnessed a significant development, as a result of the reorientation of various relevant partnerships in order to meet the requirements and priorities of the country to confront the Corona pandemic. From her side, Ms. Elena Panova, the UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt stated; “we are happy with the strategic and outstanding partnership with the Government of Egypt on delivering together on the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this commitment enabled us to mobilize USD 192.3 million for the implementation of 2020 UN joint activities in Egypt.” She added; “ the continuous engagement and cooperation between the entire UN system with the Government counterparts in Egypt, development partners, civil society, and all stakeholders is the key behind achieving tangible results in advancing and the sustainable development agenda, Egypt’s Vision 2030 and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.”

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Speech

05 October 2021

SDG Joint Fund Component 1 – Egypt SDG Financing Strategy Government of Egypt-UN Steering Committee Meeting

Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, It my great honour as the co-chair to welcome all of you to this steering committee meeting of the Joint Programme titled “Egypt SDGs financing strategy” funded by the UN Joint SDG Fund. Five UN Organizations, namely, ILO, UNCTAD, UNDP, UNICEF and UN WOMEN, are jointly implementing this programme in close collaboration with the Government of Egypt. Let me express the sincere gratitude to H.E Dr. Hala El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development and team from the Ministry for the exemplary leadership and guidance on this joint programme thus far, in their capacity as the Government focal point for this joint programme. The presence of Ministers, deputy and assistant Minsters and top management from 13 Government entities today shows the commitment Egypt places on SDGs and SDGs financing. As the UN system we highly appreciate this level of ownership and collaboration. Let me also warmly welcome Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund and the United Nations Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Agenda, who is the best resource person to deliver the keynote address on the theme of SDGs financing. As opening remarks to this committee, I want to highlight three points: Firstly, the world urgently needs to focus on financing to salvage the SDGs: Globally even before the pandemic the world was not on track towards financing of SDGs. In Africa, UNCTAD had estimated an annual SDG financing gap of $200 billion prior to COVID. As Egypt’s VNR 2021 shows, COVID-19 has further exacerbated this situation by slowing down the progress towards SDGs while dealing a heavy blow to the various financing flows towards SDGs. The preliminary estimates of recovery cost from COVID-19 for Africa is billed at $154 billion adding to the pre-existing financing gap of SDGs[1]. Hence, we need to focus on SDG financing more than ever to bring back SDGs on track. This joint programme provides an opportunity for us to do just that. Secondly, convergence of processes will be the key to enhance SDG financing in Egypt: Egypt has always been a front-runner when it comes to SDGs implementation and SDGs financing. There are several significant efforts made by Egypt with regard to SDGs financing. Egypt is already experimenting and exploring with several innovative financing instruments to finance SDGs. For example, under the leadership of Ministry of Finance, Egypt was the first country in the MENA region to issue the Green bonds last year. The proceeds from these bonds are earmarked for several SDGs. IMF conducted some preliminary costing of selected SDGs for Egypt, which supported to the development of the medium-term revenue strategy (MTRS). Further, UN is currently exploring with the ministry of Finance the issuance of SDGs-linked Bonds and development of a framework to support the same. The Ministry of Planning and Ministry of Environment collaborated to announce an ambitious target of 50% public investment in green projects by 2024/2025. When it comes to mapping of financing flows to SDGs, the Ministry of International Cooperation made pioneering efforts in mapping ODA financing flows with SDGs. I assume, Dr. Rania will touch upon some of this work today’s discussion session. Central Bank of Egypt have taken several measures towards mainstreaming sustainability within the Banking system. While the NCW has been working closely with Ministry of Finance and UN Women on gender mainstreaming of national budget. At the same time, there are several efforts globally on accelerating SDG financing, Dr. Mohieldin will touch upon some of these efforts. Hence, we need convergence of these various efforts to make the next big-step in enhancing SDGs financing in Egypt. This joint programme hopes to provide an entry point in this direction by providing a cooperation mechanism for us to discuss our ongoing efforts, identify key challenges for SDG Financing and device collective solutions. Thirdly, Egypt can be a global role-model in developing a clear and credible SDGs financing strategy. Globally very few countries, especially among large developing countries, currently have a comprehensive SDGs financing strategy. Hence, Egypt can emerge a global success story if it can deliver on a credible SDGs financing strategy. It won’t be an easy task. Some key pieces of information are essential for such a strategy, namely, we need to know how much SDGs will cost in Egypt or how much to invest in SDGs ? how much of our current financing flows go towards the SDGs ? finally, what are the new opportunities to enhance financing of SDGs, especially through innovative financing instruments ? This joint programme focuses on these three questions by enhancing our knowledge and capacities. I hope that our collaboration on this front will help the Government to capitalize on these building blocks to deliver a solid SDGs financing strategy for Egypt. Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, let me once again express the deep appreciation of the UN system for your presence today. We look froward to your valuable insights and guidance. [1] https://unctad.org/osgstatement/unctad-economic-development-africa-report-2020-press-conference

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07 March 2022

Alone but together.. how Samah and her child, Ali, overcame the COVID-19 hardship

When Samah Abdelaziz and her son Ali first tested positive for COVID-19 in October 2021, she was at least assured that she will accompany her 11-year-old son and will be isolated in the same room. Having no other elders who can take care of the child being positive, and with her husband being outside of the country, staying in at the same isolation room with her son at the UN isolation facility at Hilton Ramses Hotel, guided and managed by WHO Egypt, seemed to be a good and convenient arrangement. It was not until Samah’s oxygen level dropped and she had to be transferred to a hospital to make a CT (medical imaging) scan, that things took a different turn. Samah was prepared to have the CT scan conducted and go back to her son, but little did she know that she would have to be hospitalized for the following week or so. Samah describes this time as being very challenging not only physically but also emotionally and mentally. “I have a very special bond with Ali. He is a single child. His father and I are his only source of safety and suddenly he is isolated all alone at the hotel, and I am isolated in the hospital,” she says emotionally. “What made me feel better is that my colleagues at WHO were checking on him almost daily. The staff at the facility also took very good care of him,” she added. And, thanks to modern technology, Samah was also able to check on Ali through video calls and video chat applications. The doctors and nurses at the facility also kept Ali company, especially the duty nurse, Mahdy Shawky. Ali even drew a little portrait of Shawky as a thank you gesture by the end of his isolation period. Since the outbreak of COVID 19, WHO with its all three levels, the Headquarters, the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office and Egypt Country Office have been supporting Egypt in its fight against the pandemic. The support included surveillance and response activities, technical expertise, risk communication and community engagement, procurement, capacity building to healthcare workers, pharmaceutical support, and adverse events following immunization (AEFI) monitoring, besides supporting Egypt in its local production of the COVID 19 vaccine, among other activities. All the while, ensuring that essential health and medical services are not disrupted because of the pandemic.

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13 May 2022

Government of Egypt, UN sign a Declaration of Intent to strengthen implementation of Egypt’s National Structural Reform Programme

Cairo - The Government of Egypt and the United Nations signed a Declaration of Intent to support implementation of Egypt’s National Structural Reform Programme (NSRP) 2021-24. The new strategic partnership was signed by Dr. Hala El Saeed, the Minister of Planning and Economic Development, and Ms. Elena Panova, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Egypt, during a ceremony held at the Ministry. Through the newly signed declaration - guided by the UN Partnership Development Framework (2018- 2022) – the Government of Egypt and the United Nations in Egypt commit to working together to accelerate progress in achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs) by maximizing the benefits of Egypt’s important and ambitious economic reform programme launched in April 2021. This comprehensive reform package aims to diversity the productive structure of the Egyptian economy especially in three leading sectors: manufacturing, agriculture, and information and communications technology (ICT). Dr. Hala Al-Saeed, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, said that the declaration intends to enhance participation in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through a strategic partnership in implementing the National Structural Reform Agenda for Egypt 2021-2024, which was launched last April. Al-Saeed added that the global economy has just begun to recover from Covid-19 pandemic, but economic activities around the world has been negatively affected by the global geopolitical repercussions, noting the high rate of inflation due to the rise in food prices, which will have wide effects on plans to achieve sustainable recovery. Al-Saeed affirmed that, recognizing the crucial importance role of partnerships with international organizations, the private sector, civil society, as well as think tanks and academia to promote the achievement of the sustainable development agenda, the signing of the agreement contributes to the establishment of an important partnership between the United Nations and the Egyptian government, which represents a milestone in continuous and successful cooperation. Al-Saeed pointed to the Egyptian government's launch of the national structural reform program for a period of three years, explaining that it aims to diversify the productive sectors of the Egyptian economy by focusing on three leading sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture, communications and information technology representing the main pillars of the structural reform program. Al-Saeed added that the program also includes a comprehensive basic pillar related to raising the efficiency of labor market flexibility, developing the technical education and vocational training system in partnership mainly with the private sector, and implementing the labor management information system for the first time. Al-Saeed continued that during the implementation of the National Structural Reform Program, there will be specific areas of cooperation with the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Egypt, including forecasting the potential effects of reforms on the selected sustainable development goals, in addition to reviewing specific policy measures and quantitative goals specified in the National Structural Reform Program focusing on inclusiveness and sustainability, as well as identifying UN technical assistance and capacity development support to accelerate the implementation of the National Structural Reform Program, as well as facilitating effective multi-stakeholder partnerships and awareness raising. Both parties will work together to collaborate on raising awareness of the benefits and implications of reforms among selected stakeholders through joint campaigns for advocacy and communications. Al-Saeed thanked Mrs. Elena Panova and affirmed her confidence that the committed efforts will enable developing stronger multi-stakeholder cooperation between the Egyptian government and the United Nations. From her side, Ms. Panova commented that the UN family in Egypt is proud of its partnership with the Government of Egypt to address the critical structural reforms that will support sustainable development and help ensure that no one is left behind. The engagement with the Government will work to strengthen the reform program through evidence based monitoring and forecasting of policy impacts to help Egypt further recover from COVID-19, cushion the effects of the ongoing geopolitical crisis, and accelerate progress towards the SDGs. Dr. Nada Masoud, Economic Adviser to the Minister of Planning and Economic Development, presented the main elements of Egypt’s economic reform program focusing on the second phase and the structural reform program. She emphasized on the actual economies and it consistency with Egypt’s Vision 2030 and the 17 UN goals, and takes into account what is related to the Green economy, environmental protection and food security, explaining that the program addresses 6 pillars, 31 policies and 117 measurement indicators. Masoud also touched on the role of partners in achieving the program and its pillars. The agreement entails joint delivery of interventions in six areas to help boost the economic reforms and ensure positive impact across the SDGs and for the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable groups. This includes forecasting the potential implications of reforms on different SDGs such as poverty reduction and job creation. The United Nations and the Minister of Planning and Economic Development will also jointly review specific policy measures to ensure they take into account the needs of all regions and social groups, with a special focus on youth, women and girls and the most vulnerable segments of the population. In addition, the partnership will create a high-frequency monitoring system to measure the impact of reforms along with new multi-stakeholder partnerships to support implementation and raise awareness of the reforms. Finally, the United Nations and the Minister of Planning and Economic Development will together identify areas where UN technical assistance and capacity development can help fast-track implementation.

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15 April 2022

The Journey of a Syrian Refugee and a Pharmacist to Be

In 2012, Maryam fled to Egypt with her mother and siblings, hoping to establish a new life where they can be safe. “When we left Syria, we were all alone; we didn’t know anyone in Egypt and that was when I realized that I can rely on nothing except my education and eventually a successful career,” Maryam said after she mentioned that her parents had not completed secondary school. Maryam’s family do not consider education a priority and her parents never thought their daughters one day would ever need to get a college degree or seek a job. But Maryam was of a different mind, especially since they were forced to flee Syria and seek refuge in Egypt. She challenged her family and stood up for her right to access education and complete her secondary education in hope to get accepted to a university and get a higher education degree. While trying to adapt to a new chapter of her life in Cairo, Maryam decided to support other young refugees with their studies. She tutored them for a fee, and soon earned enough money to cover her basic needs. Despite the difficult conditions at home, she was able to pass her studies with a total of 97% in her high school grades. She now felt more adamant than ever to pursue her higher education and sought a tertiary education scholarship, as she aspired to obtain a degree in medicine or pharmacy. In 2018, Maryam applied for the DAFI (Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative) scholarship programme offered by UNHCR and the Government of Germany, which provides high-achieving refugee and asylum-seeker students with a chance to earn an undergraduate degree in their hosting countries. It was not an easy journey. But with persistence and determination, her application for the DAFI scholarship was accepted and Maryam is now enrolled in her fourth year in the Faculty of Pharmacy at Cairo University. “I was determined to obtain good grades in high school to be able to negotiate with my parents and convince them to allow me to enrol in a university, that is far from our home, in a country that still felt foreign to us,” she explained. Egypt hosts more than 271,000 refugees and asylum-seekers registered with UNHCR from 65 countries, of whom 48% are women and girls, while 50% are from Syria and were welcomed with open arms by the Egyptian society. UNHCR, along with governments and host communities, work on ensuring that girls and women have access to the same opportunities that boys and men get, to be able to show their potential and enhance their lives. I have seen a whole new world when I started university “University is more than just a higher-level educational institution, it is a place to meet new cultures and a way to learn how to depend on yourself,” said Maryam acknowledging how she has changed since she joined university. “I have seen a whole new world when I started university; I have met different people and I learned the importance of accepting others.” In Egypt, UNHCR works on expanding the access of refugees and asylum-seekers to tertiary education. In the academic year 2021/2022, there are 523 DAFI scholars in Egypt, including 119 graduates, 204 ongoing students in addition to 200 new scholars. There are also four students received scholarships to attend the Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology in Alexandria. After Maryam was able to enter Cairo University, her example inspired and encouraged her younger siblings to study harder and continue their education as she did. With a victorious smile lighting up her face, Maryam said “I am proud that I was able to change my parents’ perception about girls’ education and now they are the ones who advocate for other Syrian girls to access education in our community.”

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11 April 2022

Pfizer vaccines delivery in Egypt: A story of the essential cold chain

On the 30th of September, Egypt received the first donation of Pfizer vaccines, gifted from the U.S. Government. Around 1.6 million vaccines, the first batch of a total of 8.2 million vaccine doses to be delivered to Egypt in the coming weeks and months. Delivering only vaccines would not have make much sense. Without the proper cold chain established by the Ministry of Health and Population with UNICEF support, these vaccines could have been thrown away after few weeks. Vaccines are sensitive biological products that lose their potency and effectiveness if they are exposed to temperature outside of the required margins. In the case of Pfizer vaccines, they have to be kept at ultra-low temperature, between -60°C and -80°C (-112°F to -76°F)! This is three to four times colder than a regular home freezer, which poses challenges in a country like Egypt. UNICEF/Egypt 2021/Jonathan Crickx One of the key roles for UNICEF was to procure and deliver the fridges that will allow storage and transport of the vaccines at ultra-low temperature. “Without these fridges, we wouldn’t have been able to store the vaccines and that’s why we were in a race against time, to make sure we would have the freezers before the vaccines arrival” explains Essam Allam, Health Officer at UNICEF Egypt Country Office. As early as beginning of the year 2021, UNICEF and the Ministry of Health and Population explored the possibility of receiving some of these new COVID-19 vaccines. In June 2021, the United States Government announced the donation of millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses. UNICEF/Egypt 2021/Jonathan Crickx UNICEF’s Supply Division has decades-long expertise in terms of vaccine cold chains, procuring and delivering vaccine fridges and freezers to support routine immunization and outbreak response around the world. But the cold chain for Pfizer vaccines is a completely different story and required UNICEF to work at unprecedented speed to source and transport the critical equipment before the vaccines arrive to countries. “The freezers delivered by UNICEF are products of a completely new technology; they require very specific handling and storage conditions. For example, the weight is more than 350 kilos each, and they need to be transported and moved whilst remaining vertical. They require generators to ensure consistent electric supply, and the temperature of the room where they are stored needs to be constantly around 20 °C degrees” says Oliver Petrovic, Chief of Child Survival and Development section in UNICEF. UNICEF/Egypt 2021/Jonathan Crickx Under the leadership of the ministry, and in close cooperation with WHO, Pfizer, and USAID, UNICEF procured and delivered these freezers quickly. The announcement of the U.S. donation was made in June 2021, and the expected delivery had to take place within only a few months. The clock was ticking. “We were working around the clock” remembers Oliver Petrovic. “There were so many aspects that we needed to learn, while making very fast decisions. In addition, we also had to share the knowledge and information needed for our colleagues from the Ministry of Health and Population to also learn quickly how to handle this new equipment. When we started the procurement for these freezers, we thought we would never been ready in time, but ultimately, we were!” UNICEF/Egypt 2021/Jonathan Crickx Each of these 868 liters freezers can accommodate 300.000 Pfizer vaccine doses. With 6 freezers, this room has a capacity to store 1.8 million doses In many countries, the authorities built one or two centers to store vaccines requiring an ultra-low temperature cold chain. In Egypt, the Ministry of Health and Population managed to deploy six centers in different geographic locations. This has been a priority for the Minister, Dr. Hala Zayed, who wanted to ensure fair and equitable access to these vaccines across the country. Almost 14 million people received their first dose of vaccines, while 6,870,521 people received the second dose, and enrollment is steadily rising. The Ministry of Education has announced the roll out of the vaccines among teachers and education staff. This comes in addition to several large-scale vaccination campaigns reaching millions in Egypt.

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11 April 2022

‘We started with 3 people’: How community members in Menufiya embraced reproductive health topics

Members of a community in a small village in Menufiya rejected many notions related to reproductive health. They labeled some ideas, for example that Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) was a harmful practice, as “western” and “blasphemous,” according to Salma Abdel Moneim, a trainer on reproductive health topics. “The village is very conservative, so it was a challenge to earn their trust,” she said. Abdel Moneim works as a trainer at one of the Population Awareness Clubs (PACs), which operate in different Youth Centers around the country, hosting different awareness activities around population issues for young people using different tools. Under the “Addressing Gaps in Reproductive Health” project, UNFPA and the Canadian Embassy in Egypt work to empower women and engage men on family planning as well as address barriers women and girls face in accessing quality health services including social norms and behaviors. The trainers at the PAC agreed to solicit the help of one of the community leaders, well-respected and trusted by women and girls in the village. “We talked to her and explained the topics we want to discuss,” Abdel Moneim said, “We told her we want to tackle everyday problems we face in our community so we can live a better life.” The community leader started coming to awareness-raising sessions at the PAC, bringing along with her a number of girls. The girls then started to bring their mothers. Basma Walid started attending the sessions two months ago, when she heard about them from her relatives. “I started learning about topics I had little information about, such as adolescent health and the harms of child marriage,” the 21-year-old said, “A lot of the mothers who attend with us learned a lot about how to deal with their children in the age of adolescence.” Walid goes to attend the sessions with her sister and cousins, as well as neighbors. “People started telling each other and the number of attendees started growing,” she said. The PACs host awareness sessions around family planning, child marriage, FGM, adolescent health and gender equality. “We started off with only three people in a session and now we have over 30 people,” Abdel Moneim said. Abdel Moneim said the trainers built a “bridge of trust” with the women and girls who attend the sessions. Being from the same community, she said she went through many of the same problems. “I spoke their language and shared their problems,” she said, “I wasn’t telling them what to do, I was just giving them the information they needed to make their own decisions.” Abdel Moneim recalls sessions that addressed sexual harassment, where she allowed the topic to be debated among the attendees. “We were discussing whether sexual harassment is warranted by what a woman is wearing, and the attendees were debating it among themselves until they came to the conclusion that a woman’s clothing is irrelevant,” she explained. The PACs also engage men and boys to raise through sports activities, tackling issues such as gender equality as well as other reproductive health topics. “At first they were reluctant to listen and learn about this information from a woman,” Abdel Moneim said, “but I eventually earned their trust by telling them about my own brother for example for them to understand that I relate to them.” Now, Walid says she has enough information about reproductive health to spread around. “I talk to my aunt about how she should handle her son who is an adolescent,” she said, “Whenever any relevant topic from the issues I learned comes up, I immediately intervene.”

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11 April 2022

Narrowing the gap

“I wish that parents would give their daughters a chance to find themselves and develop their talents. I wish all mothers and fathers would be like mine,” wrote Samaa Marghany, 13 years old, in her one-minute film which she also directed and narrated. At the first row of Samaa’s film premiere, sits her mother Hanan and her father Marghany along with her sisters Yomna, 23 years old, Manar, 19 years old and Yasmine, 9 years old. The public screening of Samma’a film is taking place at a local association in Aswan where she lives with her family. Do you understand me? Samaa has a passion for art and acting and wants to pursue a career in filmmaking. She is eager to help girls and boys have a better life, and she believes that her films will be contributing to a certain message; that “Lots of people don’t know how to raise children, yet they still have them. I want to be able to raise awareness on what children really need”. Samaa’s eyes sparkle with determination as she passionately speaks on a number of issues that she wants to help change in her community. She wants girls to have free choices in life and pursue their dreams. As she attempts to insist on her points, Samaa repeats the question: “Do you understand me?” Her ambition remains that every girl is enabled to communicate openly with her parents and gets their support in pursing her aspirations. “I wish to ask a question, why don’t we get close to our daughters, talk and discuss with them, why do we give girls dos and don’ts? Why can’t I do something because I am a girl? Parents should help their daughters, not discriminate between them and boys. I wish all parents will give their daughters a chance to find themselves and develop their talents,” says Samaa. Samaa represents hundreds of thousands of girls participating in the Girl’s Empowerment National Initiative “Dawwie” led by the National Council of Childhood and Motherhood and the National Council of Women in cooperation with UNICEF and other partners. Encouraged by her mother and older sister, Samaa has actively engaged with her peers in Dawwie’s interventions including storytelling circles, intergenerational dialogue, and digital literacy training to speak up on issues of their concern. Tears of Joy, Hanan, Samaa’s mother, is a school teacher. She recalls being told by some of her relatives not to expect to be congratulated for giving birth if the baby was a girl! For Hanan, this terrible moment made her even more determined to ensure that her girls get the best start in life and develop in a caring family which boosts their opportunities. Her journey was not easy. Hanan was criticized by some of her extended family members for simply allowing her elder daughter Youmna to travel to a different city, where she obtained her university degree. In addition, Hanan also had to convince Yomna’s father to accept that their daughter starts a modeling career. Hanan says she is indeed proud of her four girls. When asked to comment on Samaa’s film, Hanan added with her eyes filled with tears of joy: “I am very happy for Samaa and her sisters. I feel that all what I have worked very hard for is coming to fruition. My girls are what they want to be, and they are pursuing their goals with persistence and confidence, ” said Hanan.

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Press Release

22 May 2022

THE SECRETARY GENERAL -- MESSAGE ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

To achieve a sustainable future for all, we need to act urgently to protect biodiversity, the web of life that connects and supports us all. We must end our senseless and destructive war against nature. The rate of species loss is tens to hundreds of times higher than the average of the past 10 million years – and accelerating. Biodiversity is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, ending the existential threat of climate change, halting land degradation, building food security and supporting advances in human health. And biodiversity offers ready solutions for green and inclusive growth. This year governments will meet to agree on a post-2020 global biodiversity framework, with clear and measurable targets and robust means of implementation that can put biodiversity on the path to recovery by 2030. The framework must tackle the drivers of biodiversity loss and enable the ambitious and transformative change needed for living in harmony with nature by effectively protecting more of the world’s land, freshwater and oceans, encouraging sustainable consumption and production, employing nature-based solutions to address climate change and ending harmful subsidies that damage the environment. It should mobilize action and financial resources to drive concrete nature-positive investments, ensuring that we all benefit from the dividends of biological diversity. As we accomplish these goals and implement the 2050 Vision for “living in harmony with nature”, we must act with respect for equity and human rights, particularly with regard to the many indigenous populations whose territories harbour so much biological diversity. To save our planet’s indispensable and fragile natural wealth, everyone needs to be engaged, including youth and vulnerable populations who rely the most on nature for their livelihoods. Today, I call on all to act to build a shared future for all life.

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Press Release

18 May 2022

The Secretary-General's remarks on the release of the WMO State of the Climate - 18 May 2022

Today’s State of the Climate report is a dismal litany of humanity’s failure to tackle climate disruption. Sea level rise, ocean heat, greenhouse gas concentrations, and ocean acidification – set alarming new records in 2021. Global mean sea level increased at more than double the previous rate and is mainly due to accelerating loss of ice mass. Ocean warming also shows a particularly strong increase in the past two decades, and is penetrating to ever deeper levels. Much of the ocean experienced at least one strong marine heatwave at some point in 2021. Professor Taalas and WMO colleagues will unpack the science. But I will give you the bottom line. The global energy system is broken and bringing us ever closer to climate catastrophe. Fossil fuels are a dead end — environmentally and economically. The war in Ukraine and its immediate effects on energy prices is yet another wake-up call. The only sustainable future is a renewable one. We must end fossil fuel pollution and accelerate the renewable energy transition, before we incinerate our only home. Time is running out. To keep 1.5 alive and prevent the worst impacts of the climate crisis, the world must act in this decade. The good news is that the lifeline is right in front of us. Transforming energy systems is low-hanging fruit. Renewable energy technologies such as wind and solar are readily available and in most cases, cheaper than coal and other fossil fuels. Over the past decade, the cost of wind energy has declined by more than half. The cost of solar energy and batteries has plummeted 85 per cent. And investment in renewables creates jobs — three times more jobs than fossil fuels. We don’t have a moment to lose. That is why today I am proposing five critical actions to jump-start the renewable energy transition. First, renewable energy technologies, such as battery storage, must be treated as essential and freely-available global public goods.
Removing obstacles to knowledge sharing and technological transfer – including intellectual property constraints -- is crucial for a rapid and fair renewable energy transition. Storing renewable electricity is often cited as the greatest barrier to the clean energy transition. I am therefore calling for a global coalition on battery storage to fast-track innovation and deployment – a coalition led and driven by governments, bringing together tech companies, manufacturers, and financiers. Second, we must secure, scale up and diversify the supply of critical components and raw materials for renewable energy technologies. Today’s supply chains for renewable energy technology and raw materials are concentrated in a handful of countries. The renewable age cannot flourish until we bridge this vast chasm. This will take concerted international coordination. Governments must invest in skills training, research and innovation, and incentives to build supply chains. Third, governments must build frameworks and reform bureaucracies to level the playing field for renewables. In many countries, these systems still favour deadly fossil fuels. We must prevent bottlenecks, where gigawatts of renewable projects are held up by red tape, permits and grid connections. I call on governments to fast-track and streamline approvals of solar and wind projects, modernize grids and set ambitious 1.5-degree-aligned renewable energy targets that provide certainty to investors, developers, consumers and producers. Renewable energy policies are fundamental to reduce market risk and drive investment into the sector. Fourth, governments must shift subsidies away from fossil fuels to protect the poor and most vulnerable people and communities. Every minute of every day, coal, oil and gas receive roughly $11 million dollars in subsidies. Each year, governments around the world pour around half a trillion dollars into artificially lowering the price of fossil fuels — more than triple what renewables receive. While people suffer from high prices at the pump, the oil and gas industry is raking in billions from a distorted market. This scandal must stop.
Fifth, private and public investments in renewable energy must triple to at least $4 trillion dollars a year. For solar and wind power, upfront payments account for 80 per cent of lifetime costs. That means big investments now will reap big rewards for years to come. But some developing countries pay seven times more in financing costs than developed countries.
We need blended finance that provides the necessary structures to close existing funding gaps and unlock the trillions held by private actors. This means adjusted risk frameworks and more flexibility to scale up renewable finance. The management and shareholders of multilateral development banks and development finance institutions must take responsibility and be held accountable. I call on them, including their private arms, to fully align their entire lending portfolios with the Paris Agreement, by 2024 at the latest, and to end all high-emissions high pollution finance. This includes using their balance sheets creatively to accelerate the renewable energy transition. And it means setting targets to substantially finance renewable energy infrastructure, including through technical and policy assistance. Commercial banks and all elements of the global financial system need to dramatically scale up investments in renewables as they phase out fossil fuels. Renewables are the only path to real energy security, stable power prices and sustainable employment opportunities. If we act together, the renewable energy transformation can be the peace project of the 21st century. Every country, city and citizen, every financial institution, company and civil society organization has a role to play. But most of all, it’s time for leaders — public and private alike — to stop talking about renewables as a distant project of the future. Because without renewables, there can be no future. As today’s report makes clear, it’s time to jump-start the renewable energy transition before it’s too late. Thank you.

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Press Release

17 May 2022

Nearly half of all pregnancies are unintended—a global crisis, says new UNFPA report

Cairo — Nearly half of all pregnancies, totaling 121 million each year throughout the world, are unintended. For the women and girls affected, the most life-altering reproductive choice—whether or not to become pregnant—is no choice at all, explains the State of World Population 2022 report, released by UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. The groundbreaking report, “Seeing the Unseen: The case for action in the neglected crisis of unintended pregnancy,” warns that this human rights crisis has profound consequences for societies, women and girls and global health. Over 60 per cent of unintended pregnancies end in abortion and an estimated 45 per cent of all abortions are unsafe, causing 5 – 13 per cent of all maternal deaths, thereby having a major impact on the world’s ability to reach the Sustainable Development Goals. Wars, conflicts and crises around the world are expected to drive an increase in unintended pregnancies, as access to sexual and reproductive health services are disrupted and sexual violence increases. “This report is a wakeup call. The staggering number of unintended pregnancies represents a global failure to uphold women and girls’ basic human rights,” says UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem. “For the women affected, the most life-altering reproductive choice—whether or not to become pregnant—is no choice at all. By putting the power to make this most fundamental decision squarely in the hands of women and girls, societies can ensure that motherhood is an aspiration and not an inevitability.” Gender inequality and stalled development drive high rates of unintended pregnancies Globally, an estimated 257 million women who want to avoid pregnancy are not using safe, modern methods of contraception, and where data is available, nearly a quarter of all women are not able to say no to sex. “An unintended pregnancy is not necessarily a personal failure and may be due to the lack of autonomy society allows or the value placed on women’s lives.” says UNFPA Arab States Regional Director, Dr. Luay Shabaneh. “Harmful norms and stigma, sexual violence and reproductive coercion, judgmental attitudes or shaming in health services, poverty and stalled economic development and gender inequality are all factors that reflect the pressure societies place on women and girls to become mothers.” added Dr. Shabaneh. When crisis hits, unintended pregnancies climb Crisis and conflict rob women of their agency at all levels, drastically increasing the risk of unintended pregnancy at the moment it is most threatening. Women often lose access to contraceptives and sexual violence increases, with some studies showing that over 20 per cent of refugee women and girls will face sexual violence. The responsibility to act The report shows how easily the most fundamental rights of women and girls are pushed to the backburner in times of peace and in the midst of war. It calls on decision-makers and health systems to prioritize the prevention of unintended pregnancies by improving the accessibility, acceptability, quality and variety of contraception and greatly expanding quality sexual and reproductive health care and information. “We must make pregnancy an aspiration not an inevitability, by empowering women and girls to make affirmative decisions about their sexual and reproductive health and motherhood.” notes Dr. Shabneh. The report urges policy makers, community leaders and all individuals to empower women and girls to make affirmative decisions about sex, contraception and motherhood, and to foster societies that recognize the full worth of women and girls. ### Notes to editors The State of World Population report is UNFPA’s annual flagship publication. Published yearly since 1978, it shines a light on emerging issues in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights, bringing them into the mainstream and exploring the challenges and opportunities they present for international development. This report’s analysis builds upon new data from our partner, the Guttmacher Institute, released on 29 March. As the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA helps people obtain contraception and life-saving reproductive health services and information and empowers women and girls to make informed decisions about their bodies and lives. You can access the UNFPA State of World Population report, Seeing the Unseen: The case for action in the neglected crisis of unintended pregnancy here: unf.pa/swopen For more information about UNFPA, please visit: arabstates.unfpa.org/en For interviews or more information, please contact: Samir Aldarabi: aldarabi@unfpa.org, +201 068484879

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Press Release

22 April 2022

The Secretary-General -- Message On International Mother Earth Day 22 April 2022

Today is International Mother Earth Day. It is a chance to reflect on how humanity has been treating our planet. The truth is, we have been poor custodians of our fragile home. Today, the Earth is facing a triple planetary crisis. Climate disruption. Nature and biodiversity loss. Pollution and waste. This triple crisis is threatening the well-being and survival of millions of people around the world. The building blocks of happy, healthy lives -- clean water, fresh air, a stable and predictable climate -- are in disarray, putting the Sustainable Development Goals in jeopardy. But there is still hope. Fifty years ago, the world came together for the Stockholm Conference. It was the start of the global environmental movement. Since then, we have seen what is possible when we act as one. We have shrunk the ozone hole. We have expanded protections for wild life and ecosystems. We have ended the use of leaded fuel, preventing millions of premature deaths. And just last month, we launched a landmark global effort to prevent and end plastic pollution. We have proven that together, we can tackle monumental challenges. And the right to a healthy environment is gaining traction. But we need to do much more. And much faster. Especially to avert climate catastrophe. We must limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees. We are far off track. To keep 1.5 alive, governments must have cut emissions by 45 per cent by 2030, and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Main emitters must drastically cut emissions starting this year. This means accelerating the end of our fossil fuel addiction. And speeding the deployment of clean renewable energy. At the same time we must invest rapidly in adaptation and resilience, particularly for the poorest and most vulnerable who have contributed least to the crisis. In June, the world will gather once again in Sweden for the Stockholm+50 meeting. Let us make sure our leaders bring the ambition and action needed to address our triple planetary emergency. Because we have only one Mother Earth. We must do everything we can to protect her.

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