United Nations 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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11 December 2022

من داخل جناح الأمم المتحدة في مصر في COP27.. سفراء "شباب بلد" يؤكدون على دور الشباب الحاسم في العمل المناخي

امنحوا الشباب الفرصة، فهم الأقدر على مواجهة تغير المناخ.. هو مضمون الرسالة التي حرص سفراء مبادرة شباب بلد، وهي النسخة المصرية من مبادرة Generation Unlimited الدولية للأمم المتحدة والتي تم إطلاقها في عام 2018 كأول منصة شراكة بين القطاع الحكومي والقطاع الخاص والشباب، بهدف منح الشباب منصة للتعبير عن أنفسهم والعثور على الفرص. نداء إلى زعماء العالم: امنحوا الشباب الفرصة الفنان نور النبوي، سفير مبادرة شباب بلد، تحدث مع الأمم المتحدة على هامش مشاركته في فعالية جانبية استضافها جناح الأمم المتحدة في مؤتمر COP27، في يوم العلم والشباب، بعنوان "المُناخ في أفريقيا.. حقبة جديدة للابتكار الشامل"، قائلا إنه "عندما يكون لدى الشباب أمل وإيمان بقدراتهم فإنهم يستطيعون تغيير مستقبلنا للأفضل." ووجه النبوي نداء إلى المسؤولين والزعماء ومن يتولون زمام السلطة حول العالم، بضرورة تمكين الشباب من أجل العمل والتحرك وإيجاد الحلول، مؤكدا: "إذا كان هناك من سيجد الحلول للتحديات التي الكثيرة التي يواجهها عالمنا، فإنهم الشباب." الأفعال الصغيرة تحدث الفرق لكل منا دور في مواجهة تغير المناخ، والإجراءات والاختيارات التي يتخذها كل واحد وكل واحدة منا يُمكن أن تصنع فرقا كبيرا في معالجة آثار تغير المناخ. وهذا ما نبهت إليه بطلة الجمباز الإيقاعي، حبيبة مرزوق، سفيرة شباب بلد، التي شاركت في فعالية جانبية موضوعها "المهارات المطلوبة للوظائف الخضراء في مصر"، وهي الفعالية التي قادتها منظمة الأمم المتحدة للطفولة (يونيسف) والتي تضطلع بدور التنسيق من جانب الأمم المتحدة لمبادرة "شباب بلد. وقالت حبيبة في حديث لمركز الأمم المتحدة للإعلام في القاهرة، "من خلال مشاركتي في المؤتمر، وفي هذه الجلسة، تعرفت على الكثير من الإجراءات البسيطة التي يُمكن لكل منا القيام بها والتي تساهم في معالجة أزمة المناخ. يشمل هذا الحد من استخدام البلاستيك، وترشيد استخدامنا للكهرباء، وتقليل اعتمادنا على المركبات متى أمكن ذلك. الآن أصبح دوري بعد انتهاء المؤتمر هو رفع الوعي لدى الشباب وقد التقيت بالفعل الكثير منهم ممن يملكون أفكارا وحلولا غير عادية."
الدول النامية بحاجة إلى المساعدة الشباب والحلول المناخية كان موضوع حدث جانبي آخر استضافه جناح الأمم المتحدة في COP27 تم التركيز خلاله على أهمية إعادة النظر في دور الأطفال والشباب كشركاء في جهود الوقاية من آثار تغير المناخ والاستجابة لها، وقد أدار النقاش خلال الفعالية الفنان الشاب أحمد داش، وهو أحد سفراء مبادرة شباب بلد. وفي حديث مع الأمم المتحدة على هامش مشاركته في الفعالية، قال السيد داش، "إن دوري هو توصيل صوت جيلي والأجيال الأصغر مني، فنحن الأكثر تضررا من تغير المناخ، كما أننا نمثل الأجيال ربما الوحيدة التي لم تتسبب في التغير المناخي. لذلك دوري هو توعية الشباب والأطفال بضرورة اكتساب عادات يومية تساعدنا في المعركة ضد تغير المناخي. مهما كان الدور الذي يقوم به كل منا صغيرا، لكن معا يصبح تأثيرها كبيرا ومن ثم يُمكننا المساهمة في مواجهة التغير المناخي في العالم بأسره." كما اعتبر سفير شباب بلد أن استضافة مصر، البلد العربي والأفريقي، لقمة الأمم المتحدة للمناخ، تُسلط الضوء على الحاجة إلى زيادة الدعم والمساعدة للدول النامية في مواجهة آثار أزمة المناخ، كونها من الأقل مساهمة في تغير المناخ. كما وجه رسالة إلى المجتمعين في شرم الشيخ بضرورة بذل كل جهد ممكن، سواء كانوا أفراد أو حكومات أو قطاع خاص، من أجل تعزيز العمل المناخي وإنقاذ كوكبنا.

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26 September 2022

“Youth For Climate” Caravan, a national initiative putting youth at the forefront of climate action

Cairo, 4 September 2022 – At a launch event today, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Environment, and with the support of UNICEF and the United Nations in Egypt a new initiative has been announced focusing on youth engagement in climate action. The inaugural event was attended by H.E. Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr. Ali Abo Sena, CEO of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) on behlaf H.E Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment, Ms. Elana Panova, the UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt, Mr. Jeremy Hopkins, UNICEF Representative in Egypt, and Actor Ahmed Helmy, UNICEF Regional Goodwill Ambassador. The “Youth For Climate” Caravan, an equipped mobile van powered by gas, will be led by a team of young people travelling across all the Egyptian governorates kicking off on the 5th of September. The Caravan will organize various activities during its journey which encompasses capacity building sessions, youth dialogue, competitions, festivals, theatrical performances, bootcamps; as well as, awareness-raising campaigns. In essence, the Caravan roving the country would encourage young people to be fully engaged in the climate discussion and to pave the way for COP27 scheduled for November in Sharm El Sheikh. Egypt is keen to enable adolescents and youth and to play an effective role within the framework of international efforts to combat climate change. Globally, all children face challenges associated with climate change and a degrading natural environment. Some children; however, are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change than others – depending largely on the availability, quality, equity, and sustainability of key and essential services for children, such as water and sanitation, health care, nutrition and education. “The Ministry’s approach is to educate children and youth about climate change, and the importance of preserving the environment through a package of various projects and programs in cooperation with institutions concerned with climate change and going green, as well as international development partners in light of the directives of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi”, asserted Dr. Ashraf Sobhi, Minister of Youth and Sports. The Minister indicated that the “Youth For Climate” Caravan will be hosted in climate and environment clubs in youth centers located in various governorates. In his remarks the Minister referred that the Ministry of Youth and Sports’ will organize the “Children of the World Meet” festival next October, as part of the youth preparatory program agenda for the Climate Summit (COP 27), and the Ministry is also working in liaison with the Youth Department of the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention, and in coordination with a number of local organizations, to implement the Climate Youth Conference (COY 17), the Ministry is also working on organizing a special day for youth concerned about climate and to recognize volunteer’s efforts which would be held during the COP 27 summit. Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment, said, “I appreciate the tireless efforts of the Ministry of Youth and Sports to promote the involvement of conscious and educated youth not only from Egypt, but also from around the world in international climate action. I also emphasize on the outstanding cooperation of all development partners; especially, all the bodies, organizations, and programs of the United Nations, which seek to develop and advance environmental and climate work and achieve sustainable development goals at all economic, social, and environmental levels. The Minister stressed that "Egypt seeks, through the COP27 Sharm El-Sheikh Climate Conference, to address a range of topics in its presidential program, such as food and water security, biodiversity, waste management, as well as equal transition of energy. The slogan of the COP27 Sharm El-Sheikh Climate Conference is “Execution Conference” as we aim during the conference to raise ambitions through viable youth ideas.” Ms. Elena Panova, UN Resident coordinator said “Climate Change Caravan is a forward looking and inclusive youth-led climate action initiative. It brings climate-related local solutions from across the country and provides a space for consultations by and for young people in Egypt.” She added, “the engagement of young people comes at the heart of the UN’s work in Egypt. We are committed to stand by their side as they aspire for a more prosperous and resilient Egypt.” Mr Jeremy Hopkins, UNICEF Representative in Egypt said, “the climate crisis has exposed children, on every continent, to greater risk of more destructive climate hazards, from heatwaves and droughts to cyclones and flooding, as well as the increase in the pollution levels in water and air which makes us all extremely worried. We are proud to be part of the Youth 4 Climate Caravan which will travel across Egypt with stops along the way to listen to children and young people express their concerns, ideas, and recommendations on what we can do to adapt to, mitigate and slow down climate change. Also, I am glad that the youth are participating in providing interactive activities with all the young people across the Caravan journey to make sure that the voices of young people in Egypt are heard at the Climate Change Summit. I want to extend my gratitude to the GoE for their relentless efforts, and to also thank the USAID and the Swiss Development Cooperation for their substantial support”. A recent World Bank study found that up to 132 million people worldwide could be pushed into extreme poverty by 2030 as a result of climate change – 44 million due to its impact on health, 33.5 million due to the impact on food prices and 18.2 million due to the impact of disasters. Ahmed Helmy, Actor and UNICEF Regional GWA said, “climate change is becoming an important challenge just like other challenges that we face nowadays. It is necessary to consider its impact and strive to overcome the dangers of climate change, not only for our sake, but for the sake of our children and for all living organisms that have the right to live and breathe. In a healthy climate created by God for us, it’s our duty to preserve it. To realize the extent of the crisis, we must first be informed about it so that we can seek in quick steps means to solve it and avoid its occurrence or, more precisely, its aggravation. This will only happen through education and awareness starting from an early age. These are integral elements of the global and local response, as raising awareness along with education play an important role in developing the mind and knowledge for the renaissance of societies, namely the youth and adolescents. It's time to understand our environment, take care of it and protect it against the harmful effects of climate change. All this for us to live a healthy and green life that can adapt to climate change and mitigating its effects. This youth-led initiative is a huge and comprehensive collective effort to advance environmental education and climate action for future generations.” This National initiative launched today offers adolescents and youth the knowledge, competencies, and opportunities to understand, care for, and protect their environment as active agents against the detrimental effects of climate change.

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20 October 2022

مصر.. مدينة القاهرة تكافح تغير المناخ بالدراجات

"لطالما حلمت بوجود مشروع كهذا في بلدنا،" يقول محمد العربي، 20 عاما، وقد ارتسمت على ملامحه مظاهر حماس وسعادة واضحين، بينما يتفقد دراجة هوائية في إحدى محطات مبادرة "كايرو بايك"، في ميدان التحرير، بالعاصمة المصرية القاهرة. محمد هو واحد من عشرات الشباب والشابات الذين قاموا بتجربة نظام مشاركة الدراجات، "كايرو بايك"، الأول من نوعه في مصر، والذي أطلقته محافظة القاهرة بالتعاون مع برنامج الأمم المتحدة للمستوطنات البشرية، الخميس، 20 أكتوبر، قبل أيام قليلة على انطلاق مؤتمر الأمم المتحدة للمُناخ COP27، في جهد يهدف إلى تقديم حل يُساهم في تنوع وسائل المواصلات في القاهرة، ويقلل من الازدحام المروري وصولا إلى خفض الانبعاثات الضارة وتحسين جودة الهواء في المدينة التي تُصنفها الأمم المتحدة من بين أكبر المدن الحضرية في العالم. ونظام مشاركة الدراجات، الذي شهد رئيس الوزراء مصطفى مدبولي فعاليات تدشينه، يستهدف الشباب بشكل رئيسي، ويهدف إلى إتاحة شبكة من الدراجات في مناطق متعددة ويمكن استخدامها بشكل آمن بين المحطات المختلفة من خلال استخدام تطبيق على الهاتف المحمول وتوفير الأسعار التنافسية وباقات الاشتراك المختلفة. تكلفة ميسورة لتشجيع استخدام الدراجات تحتوي المرحلة الأولى من المشروع على 250 دراجة و25 محطة في وسط القاهرة والمناطق المجاورة، ومن المقرر أن تتضمن المرحلة الثانية من المشروع في الشهور القادمة تكثيف عدد الدراجات إلى 500 دراجة في 45 محطة بالمواقع الرئيسة في وسط القاهرة وجاردن سيتي وجزيرة الزمالك في القاهرة، حيث تشمل الدراجات نظام تحديد المواقع العالمي (GPS) لضمان الإدارة المُثلى والأمن. وستغطي المحطات المواقع الاستراتيجية والنقاط الهامة لتجمع الشباب، بالإضافة إلى العديد من محطات المترو والحافلات. يبدأ السعر من جنيه مصري واحد في الساعة مع إتاحة العديد من باقات الاشتراك وطرق الدفع المختلفة لضمان شمول جميع الأطراف المعنية، بالإضافة إلى توفير طرق الدفع البديلة. يقول محمد: "يُتيح لك النظام استخدام الدراجة عن طريق بطاقة ذكية، وتُعتبر التكلفة رمزية حتى إذا استخدمت الدراجة طوال اليوم. كما أن هذا المشروع صديق للبيئة ويُساهم في تقليل التكدس المروري من خلال تقليل استعمال السيارات." أما نورة طاهر، صاحبة الـ18 عاما، والتي حظيت هي الأخرى بفرصة لركوب الدراجة، فاتفقت مع محمد، قائلة، "المشروع ربما لا يكون له عائد مالي كبير في المدى القريب، لكنه يُقلل الكثير من الخسائر التي ستحدث نتيجة للزيادة المتوقعة في استخدام المركبات مع النمو السكاني في السنوات القادمة، وما يُمكن أن يصحبه ذلك من تلوث للهواء والبيئة. أتمنى أن يشجع هذا المشروع المزيد من الأشخاص على استخدام الدراجات." من مدينة رمادية إلى مدينة خضراء يطمح القائمون على مشروع "كايرو بايك"، إلى توسيع نطاق نظام مشاركة الدراجات ليغطي مزيدا من المناطق بمدينة القاهرة، وصولا إلى باقي المحافظات المصرية. وبحسب محافظ القاهرة، تسعى المبادرة إلى إحداث تغيير في ثقافة استخدام وسائل النقل المستدامة من أجل تحول أخضر في شوارع المدن المصرية، من خلال ترسيخ مفاهيم البنية التحتية الخضراء والحفاظ على المساحات الخضراء والاستثمار في الطاقة المتجددة ووسائل التنقل المستدامة لدعم بيئة حضرية صديقة للمشاة وراكبي الدراجات، بما يتفق ما رؤية مصر 2030 وأجندة التنمية المستدامة للأمم المتحدة. وقال: "المدن مسؤولة عن 70 في المائة من مسببات انبعاثات الاحتباس الحراري لذلك نحرص على العمل لتغيير الأنماط التي تعمل بها مدننا حتى لا تكون قضية التغير المناخ عائقا أساسيا لتنمية واستدامة مدننا. لذلك فنحن في محافظة القاهرة نتعجل في العمل سويا نحو خفض الانبعاثات وتحقيق أهداف اتفاق باريس لمكافحة التغيرات المناخية والتكيف مع آثارها، ومشروعنا اليوم خطوة هامة في هذا الاتجاه." كما أشار محافظ القاهرة إلى أن المشروع يُمثل خطوة مهمة نحو تغيير ثقافي تدريجي ورحلة تعلم هدفها تشجيع الممارسات المستدامة وصولا إلى عالم خال من الكربون. نحو تغيير في الرؤية التقليدية لشوارع المدينة تُعد المُدن الكبرى، كالقاهرة، مكانا مثاليا لأنظمة مشاركة الدراجات، حيث تشهد أحياؤها تنوعا من حيث الكثافات التي تتفاوت من متوسطة إلى عاليا، مما يخلق طلبا على ركوب الدراجات، إذ تصبح الرحلات القصيرة والمتوسطة ممكنة وأكثر سهولة باستخدام الدراجة. وتقول السيدة رانيا هداية، مديرة البرنامج القُطري لبرنامج الأمم المتحدة للمستوطنات البشرية في مصر، إن المشروع سيساهم في تغيير طريقة تفكيرنا وتناولنا وتخطيطنا لشوارع المدينة. وتوضح: "عادة ما يكون التفكير منصبا على السيارات إلى حد بعيد عند تخطيط المدن. نحن نرى أن الأولوية في التخطيط ينبغي أن تكون لتمكين الناس من استخدام وسائل مختلفة في تنقلاتهم اليومية من مكان لآخر. فبدلا من اللجوء إلى توسعة الشوارع، نقوم اليوم باستقطاع أجزاء منها وتخصيصها لراكبي الدراجات. وهذا يتماشى مع رؤية مصر 2030، والحوارات والمفاوضات التي سيشهدها مؤتمر الأطراف COP27." وترى السيدة هداية أنه لا غنى عن منظومات النقل الجماعي عند الحديث عن مواجهة أزمة المناخ ومعالجتها. ولهذا بدأ برنامج الأمم المتحدة للمستوطنات البشرية، كما تقول، منذ نحو ست سنوات حوارا مع الحكومة المصرية، من خلال شراكات مختلفة، سواء مع المحافظات أو وزارة الإسكان، مُمثلة في هيئة المجتمعات العمرانية الجديدة، من أجل إدخال نظم تنقل مستدامة جديدة كالدراجات الهوائية، وربطها بوسائل النقل الجماعي التقليدية كشبكة مترو الأنفاق أو الحافلات، لتشجيع الناس على تقليل الاعتماد على سياراتهم الشخصية في تنقلاتهم. ويُعد مشروع كايرو بايك نتاج شراكة بين محافظة القاهرة وشركاء التنمية منذ بداية مراحل التخطيط في عام 2016، حيث وُقعت مذكرة التفاهم في يوليو 2017 بين محافظة القاهرة وبرنامج الأمم المتحدة للمستوطنات البشرية، وعُقد التعاون في يوليو 2019، بدعم وتمويل من مؤسسة دروسوس السويسرية ودعم فني وإشراف من قِبل معهد سياسة النقل والتنمية وبرنامج الأمم المتحدة للمستوطنات البشرية.

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15 September 2023

Government of Egypt and UN partner for the SDGs Summit

The Egyptian Ministry of Planning and Economic Development hosted on 11 September 2023 in Cairo a national consultation to present and receive views on Egypt’s draft commitments to accelerate SDG progress. The Government plans to announce the commitments at the SDG Summit during the UNGA High-Level week. The event gathered 80 participants from across Egyptian society representing government, civil society, private sector, parliament, think tanks, academia and media. The aim was to build national consensus and ownership—a core principle of the SDGs. Following a keynote address by the Minister of Planning and Economic Development Dr. Hala El-Said, UN Resident Coordinator (RC) Elena Panova gave remarks on the global context, purposes of the SDG Summit, and the importance of ambitious national commitments to support SDG acceleration. The RC stressed: “Egypt’s new national commitments and engagement in the SDG Summit are examples of this commitment in action. Today’s national consultation with representatives from across Egyptian society is an important step in building a consensus on what needs to be done to reach the SDGs and how everyone can play a supportive role.” During a series of interactive sessions, participants provided feedback on the commitments and engaged in a wide-ranging dialogue on the critical sustainable development issues facing Egypt, such as poverty, gender equality, economic transformation, and climate action. The Deputy Minister and the Economist of the Resident Coordinator’s Office gave closing remarks on the path to the SDG Summit and beyond. Participatory Stakeholder Engagement The national consultation was part of an inclusive and innovative stakeholder engagement plan developed by the Government in collaboration with the UN Country Team in Egypt. An online survey was also launched to gather perspectives from an even wider range of Egyptian stakeholders on SDG progress, forward-looking priorities, and challenges to SDG implementation. Targeted outreach to civil society groups representing youth, women, and vulnerable populations also sought to ensure the collection of an inclusive range of views. Inputs from both the consultation and survey are helping to refine the national commitments in advance of the SDG Summit. Diverse stakeholder engagement was not the only area of collaboration between the UN and Government of Egypt in preparation for the SDG Summit. Working closely with the Government, UNDP developed an SDG Insights Report to inform the commitments that identified priorities for accelerating the SDGs building on key national strategies such as the National Climate Change Strategy 2050, National Human Rights Strategy, and Egypt Vision 2030. Additionally, the UN Country Team provided inputs to the analysis at both the design and draft report stages. The RCO and UNIC supported the SDG Summit communications and advocacy strategy, including the preparation of a joint media engagement between the Minister of Planning and Economic Development and Resident Coordinator following the consultation. Moving Forward to the SDG Summit In addition to announcing commitments at the SDG Summit, Egypt will actively engage on SDG Acceleration Day especially on SDG localization. Egypt has long been an innovator in localizing the SDGs, developing localization reports for all governates, presenting three Voluntary Local Reviews at the 2023 High-Level Political Forum, and launching a governorate competitiveness index. The SDGs have also been brought tangibly to the local level through “Decent Life”, Egypt’s flagship initiative for improving the quality of life in poor villages through improved infrastructure, access to basic services, decent employment opportunities, and women’s empowerment. The Government will share its experiences at the High Impact Initiative session on SDG localization and host a side event focused on financing the SDGs at the local level. Looking ahead, the SDG Summit is an important but intermediate step towards the SDGs. What matters most is what happens after. Collective action over the medium- and long-term are needed to make the pledges a reality. The UN in Egypt is a proud partner of the Government of Egypt. The new UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2023-27 signed earlier this year outlines a shared vision of partnership in support of a sustainable future. The cooperation framework will continue to guide the UN’s collaboration with Egypt to help meet its national commitments for SDG acceleration and fulfill the promise of the 2030 Agenda.

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14 August 2023

Let the #YouthLead: Lessons from UN Resident Coordinators and Country Teams

From forging new paths for climate action to keeping government leaders accountable and deftly navigating the perks and perils of a digital world, young people all over the world are beacons of hope and change in these tumultuous times. Issues like climate change, jobs and income, inclusion and diversity carry the highest stakes for young people. Yet too often, their voices are excluded from the political processes and critical decisions impacting their future the most. The Youth2030, the UN’s Youth Strategy, launched in 2018, has provided a blueprint to guide the UN’s engagement with young people and their ideas and insights on the Sustainable Development Goals. Today, 55 UN Entities and 131 UN Country Teams are involved in implementing this strategy. UN Resident Coordinators, leading these UN country teams on the ground, are at the forefront of these efforts. With their networks and mandates, Resident Coordinators are bringing youth into the fold in three significant ways: 1) Creating spaces in the national discourse for the SDGs In countries including Serbia, Kyrgyz Republic, Albania, Jordan, Brazil and others, dedicated Youth Advisory Boards/ Councils, consisting of young people from diverse walks of life, have been established to help shape the UN’s work on the ground and inform the programmes and policies focused on youth in the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks. In Serbia, for instance, the Youth Board has shaped the agenda of the UN country team significantly, resulting in the UNCT allocating over 10 million USD for youth-led programmes in the country. Representatives from this Youth Advisory Group have also been closely involved in pre-COP27 consultations last year, as well as global platforms such as the UNDRR Youth Network and the ECOSOC Youth Forum. In Egypt, under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator and the UN Country Team, a Youth Climate Change Committee is currently being set up, following Egypt’s hosting of COP27 last year. This is being carried out under a joint project between the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Youth Thematic Group of the UN country team. This committee consists of young people from the different governorates of Egypt, who will receive trainings on climate politics, and be engaged in the designing, development and implementation of climate policies and participate in climate negotiations. In Thailand, the Youth Panel for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), comprising young leaders, serves as an advisory board to the Resident Coordinator and the UN Country Team. Their ideas and advice informed the development of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework and have been instrumental in raising awareness about the SDGs, through digital-first platforms like Instagram.
2) Expanding partnerships with youth and youth-led organizations The UN in Albania has pioneered a number of innovative partnerships aimed at engaging and reaching youth to promote the SDGs. The first of these partnerships was with the Tirane European Youth Capital, under the European Youth Forum, which has hosted more than 40 events targeting the Albanian youth last year. Through this partnership, young people were provided various learning opportunities and were able to participate in conferences and exhibitions on key development issues. One of the events, the #Youth4Health–Tirane 2022 Health and Well-being Forum held last year paved the way for WHO-Europe’s first-ever regional youth network. Another partnership was forged between UN Albania and Vodafone in an effort to raise awareness and encourage action on SDGs. Through this partnership an interactive SDG quiz was developed on the Vodafone app with an estimated reach of at least 400,000 users. 3) Supporting and driving investments for youth-led solutions With 79% of the population consisting of young people, for Liberia- youth employment and entrepreneurship are key drivers for long-term sustainable development. Two initiatives run by the UN Country team- the “Youth Rising” project and the “Youth at Risk” programme- are empowering young people, particularly young women, with skills, vocational training and practical jobs in sectors such as agriculture, construction, timber and mining. Such training is helping boost local economies and strengthen social cohesion. In Colombia, in response to widespread strikes and clashes between youth and police, the UN Country team- particularly UNICEF, ILO and UNFPA are implementing a joint project in three cities where youth are acquiring skills to become active agents of change and drivers of peace and reconciliation. Thus far, 400 Colombian youths have participated in this initiative, taking a leadership role in managing risks and preventing violence in their territory. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, UN Women is partnering with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), to implement an Africa-wide flagship program "Girls Who Can Code" (GWCC). The programme trains and empowers young girls aged 17-25 across Africa to become computer programmers, designers, and developers.

In Guatemala, an online SDG Course developed by the UN is helping empower hundreds of young Guatemalans to become drivers of change in their communities. This course has now been adapted to start an SDG Champions Programme. As part of the programme, two young women, 19-year-old Sofia Posadas and 22-year-old Lea Abac2 are set to visit schools in their home regions, Sacatepéquez in the north of the country and Quetzaltenango, in the west, to teach 200 students about the SDGs.

Halfway on the road to 2030, it is clear that no goal can be fully realized without young peoples’ active leadership. Incremental steps need to be traded in for bold, systemic action with young people empowered to make decisions. The upcoming SDG Summit in September offers an important opportunity for world leaders to double down on their commitments towards the goals and create space for young people to truly lead.

The only sustainable future is one which fully harnesses the potential of youth.

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23 July 2023

UN delivered US$ 160.4 million of joint activities in Egypt in 2022, according to a new report

Cairo - Against a backdrop where the socioeconomic impact of cascading crisis was increasingly being felt, especially by most vulnerable people, the UN in Egypt delivered US$ 160.4 million of joint activities in Egypt in 2022, a newly released UN in Egypt report revealed. The UN in Egypt Annual Country Team Results Report 2022 tackles the results of four key results areas; inclusive economic development, social justice, environmental sustainability and natural resource management, and women’s empowerment. 2022 was the fifth and final year of the implementation of the UN Partnership Development Framework, UNPDF, (2018-2022). Through the four UNPDF outcomes, the UN in Egypt continued its support to Egypt’s national priorities and strategic plans. The implementation of the UNPDF in 2022 reached an expenditure of US$ 160.4 million with a delivery rate of 88 per cent. The highest delivery rate of 98 per cent was achieved by Outcome 1, Inclusive Economic Development, followed by Outcome 4, Women’s Empowerment, with 90 per cent delivery rate. Outcome 2, Social Justice, achieved a delivery rate of 86 per cent and Outcome 3, Environmental Sustainability, achieved 79 per cent. “2022 proved the value of working hand in hand with the Government of Egypt alongside many local and international partners towards achieving the national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” said the UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt, Elena Panova. “Only together we can deliver on our commitment to leave no one behind.” According to the report, the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference - COP27 hosted by Egypt in November 2022, showcased the country as a leader when it comes to climate action. One of the most important outcomes of COP27 for the developing countries was the establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund. “COP27 allowed the UN in Egypt to bring forward capacity and expertise from all levels of the UN system on the important discussion revolving around the world's collective climate goals. It is also worth noting the importance of mobilising youth participation which was done through the local and global Climate Change Conferences of Youth,” noted Ms. Panova. Beyond COP27, the UN in Egypt partnership with the Government on climate policy will continue as climate action is a strategic domestic policy priority. During 2022 the new five year Cooperation Framework 2023-27 between the UN in Egypt and the Government of Egypt was finalized with the main objective of continuing the strategic cooperation for prosperous, sustainable and resilient Egypt where no one is left behind.

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18 July 2023

75th Anniversary of Peacekeeping celebrated in Egypt

Cairo, Egypt - The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UN in Egypt celebrated the 75th anniversary of UN Peacekeeping on Monday, 17 July, with a high-level event taking place at the Ministry’s premises in Cairo, reflecting high recognition of peacekeepers ’extraordinary contributions to international peace and security. Attended by the Egyptian Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Multilateral Affairs and International Security Ambassador Ihab Badawi, the UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt, Elena Panova and a wide range of members of the diplomatic community in Egypt along with Egyptian female and male peacekeepers and their families, the event provided an opportunity to honor the service and sacrifice of Egyptian women and men in peacekeeping. The celebration started with a screening of the UN Secretary-General’s message on Peacekeeping Day 2023, in which he honoured peacekeepers extraordinary contributions to international peace and security and expressed his sympathy and solidarity with their families, friends and colleagues. “United Nations peacekeepers are the beating heart of our commitment to a more peaceful world. For 75 years, they have supported people and communities rocked by conflict and upheaval across the globe,” the Secretary-General said. “Today, on the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, we honour their extraordinary contributions to international peace and security.” Egypt is among key supporters of the UN Secretary-General’s Action for Peace (A4P) initiative aimed at reforming peacekeeping and making the operations more effective. In November 2018, Egypt held a high-level international conference with the aim of improving the impact and performance of UN Peacekeeping operations. The first of its kind since the A4P launch, the conference resulted in the “Cairo Roadmap for Peacekeeping Operations” outlining a workplan as well as a balanced executive framework for shared commitments in relation to the UN Secretary-General’s initiative, and it was eventually adopted by the African Union in 2020. “Egypt has a long-standing belief in the vital role of UN Peacekeeping in upholding international peace and security. Egypt’s contributions have increased incrementally overtime, making it one of the major peacekeeping contributors of military and police personnel. Since 1960, Egypt has contributed more than 30,000 of uniformed peacekeepers who served in 38 UN operations deployed in 24 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe. Furthermore, Egypt has been playing a key role and providing valuable contributions when it comes to developing conceptual aspects of peacekeeping and peacebuilding.” The 6th largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN Peacekeeping, Egypt currently deploys more than 2,800 military and police personnel to the UN peace operations in Abyei, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, South Sudan, and the Western Sahara. These contributions were highlighted during the event through video documentaries by the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Interior and Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding. The celebration also shed light on the need for more women in peacekeeping as key for more efficient peacekeeping operations, an area where Egypt has been an active player, with Egyptian female peacekeepers serving as role models in the peacekeeping missions where they serve. “Egypt supports peacekeeping in the most direct way and in so doing it walks the talk. As per the end of April, Egypt was contributing more than 2,800 men and women peacekeepers in the line of duty. These brave women and men serve in some of the most challenging situations on this globe. And some of them pay the highest price, giving their life in the pursuit of peace,” said the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Egypt, Elena Panova. “Indeed, today we remember the Egyptian Blue Helmets that made the ultimate sacrifice in service of humanity.” The celebration recognized injured Egyptian peacekeepers for their dedication and selflessness and paid tribute to their fallen colleagues who made the ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of peace, while serving under the UN flag. 10 families of injured and fallen Egyptian peacekeepers received honorary certificates from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UN in Egypt. In 1948, the historic decision was made to deploy military observers to the Middle East to supervise the implementation of Israel-Arab Armistice Agreements, in what became the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization. Since that time, more than two million peacekeepers from 125 countries have since served in 71 operations around the world. Today, 87,000 women and men are serving in 12 conflict zones across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. The theme of the 75th anniversary “Peace begins with me” recognizes the service and sacrifice of peacekeepers, past and present, including more than 4200 who have given their lives under the UN flag. It also pays tribute to the resilience of the communities that we serve, who continue to strive for peace despite many obstacles.

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19 June 2023

Donors pledge 1.5 billion US$ to support humanitarian response in Sudan and the region, including in Egypt

Donors convened in a UN-led high-level event to support the humanitarian response to the Sudan crisis pledged around 1.5 billion US$ on Monday to help fund live-saving relief efforts in Sudan and neighboring countries, including Egypt, while appealing to the warring parties to immediately end the fighting. The ministerial-level pledging event in Geneva was organized by the United Nations and the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Federal Republic of Germany, the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the African Union and the European Union. Addressing the event, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that the people of Sudan and those of neighboring countries are shouldering the burden of a terrible crisis. “We must do everything we can to support them. And the UN stands with the courageous Sudanese people, their wishes and hopes for a better future,” noted the UN chief. The commitment shown by donors to those affected “comes just in time, declared the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, as he warned that the UN refugee agency’s resources for the situation were dwindling. He further appealed for funds to be urgently allocated and disbursed so that more aid can reach those in dire need in Sudan and in neighboring countries. “The pledges will save lives and help alleviate some hardship. Ultimately, of course, only a durable peace will allow the Sudanese to restart their lives," he said. as of 19 June, more than 250,000 Sudanese people have fled the conflict in Sudan to Egypt, UNHCR announced, based on the latest figures received from the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This makes up 60 percent of those fleeing Sudan, according to Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. Addressing the conference, Mr. Shoukry urged the international community to “provide humanitarian assistance and financial support to host communities in neighboring countries to promote resilience and ensure peaceful coexistence.” In Egypt, and within an estimated 470 million US$ regional response plan, UNHCR is leading the UN Country Team response to the Sudan crisis, in close coordination with the government of Egypt. The relief effort in Egypt incorporates 25 partners working together to fulfil the needs of those who were forced to flee as well as the hosting communities in Egypt, said UNHCR Egypt Representative Hanan Hamdan. According to Ms. Hamdan, $114 million is needed for UNHCR and partners to be able to support around 360,000 people for a duration of six months. With the conflict in Sudan entering its second month, the United Nations and its partners have been appealing for US$3 billion to help millions of people in the country and hundreds of thousands fleeing to neighboring countries.

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Press Release

24 September 2023

UN Chief Meets with Egypt's Foreign Minister, Praises Egypt's Important role in the region

The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Sameh Hassan Shoukry Selim, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt. The Secretary-General and the Minister discussed regional developments, including the Middle East Peace Process, the Sudan, Libya and Syria. The Secretary-General expressed appreciation for Egypt’s important mediation role in the region. The Secretary-General also raised the importance of reforms of the international financial systems to the developing world. The Secretary-General thanked Egypt for its efforts to launch the Global Initiatives during the 27th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP27) in November 2022 and stressed the importance of implementing the Initiatives. New York, 23 September 2023

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Press Release

12 September 2023

UN Secretary-General Issues ‘UN 2.0’ Policy Brief: A Vision for a Modernized UN System

As we approach the midpoint of the 2030 Agenda, it is evident that the world is off course in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To get back on track, everyone—including the United Nations system—needs to rethink, refocus, and recharge. In response, today, the Secretary-General issued his final Policy Brief on Our Common Agenda, titled “UN 2.0: Cutting-Edge Skills and Forward-Thinking Culture for UN System Impact.” UN 2.0 represents a vision for a rejuvenated United Nations system, better equipped to support member states in the twenty-first century and turbocharge progress on the SDGs. At the core of UN 2.0 are stronger capabilities in five modern areas of expertise: a dynamic fusion of data, innovation, digital, behavioral science and strategic foresight, which we call our “quintet of change.” To foster environments where these cutting-edge skills thrive, the UN 2.0 will be rooted in a shift towards organizational cultures that put a priority on agility, learning, and creativity. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres remarked, “As a result, UN 2.0 unlocks novel, impactful approaches and solutions for SDG progress, at a time when it is needed the most.” A snapshot of the ongoing UN system progress and solutions is available on the new www.un-two-zero.network platform. The site showcases over 500 initiatives from 160 UN Country Teams who utilize the “quintet of change” in their work with member states for SDG impact. These initiatives highlight the immense potential of twenty-first-century expertise for addressing challenges in climate, education, agriculture, gender equality, and beyond. The UN 2.0 agenda will engage the entire UN system. Every UN entity, team, and colleague will contribute to this transformative organizational shift in learning, job profiles, partnerships, knowledge sharing, technology, as well as programme solutions for member states. While each UN entity will navigate the transformation at its own pace, a joint accelerator program will champion UN 2.0's progression throughout the United Nations system starting in 2024. For a comprehensive understanding of our forward-looking vision, goals, and transformative strategies, we strongly encourage all stakeholders to delve into the full policy brief: https://www.un.org/en/common-agenda/policy-briefs.

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Press Release

05 September 2023

Media Advisory--United Nations in Egypt Booth at the Global Congress on Health, Population and Development

Arab Republic of Egypt, 5 September 2023 (United Nations Information Centre in Cairo) – The UN family in Egypt will be represented at the Global Congress on Health, Population and Development Cairo, ,from 5 September to 8 September 2023 by the "UN Booth in Egypt" aligned with the Global Congress agenda, with a special focus on the various programs, activities, and initiatives of the UN in Egypt, all coming under the theme "“A Healthy Population: The backbone of the SDGs” with additional tagline “Act Now for Our Common Future”" to highlight the policy of the UN system in Egypt in dealing with Health, Population and Development issues. The significant demographic, social and economic changes are challenging to achieve UN sustainable development goals and ensuring health and well being for all. In addition to the global threats of water scarcity, food crisis and climate change which all jeopardize sustainable and economic development of nations worldwide.
Ministers, civil society representatives, non-governmental organizations, investors, the private sector, researchers, and specialists in the fields of health, population and development are gathering in Cairo to participate in the Global Congress on Health, Population, and Development. .The United Nations Booth in Egypt also emphasizes Health, Population and Egyptian national sustainable development issues. The events will include discussions focused on enhancing implementation across priority issues, as well as an opportunity to network with heads of UN agencies, CEOs of private institutions, and civil society representatives to develop practical, impactful, and ambitious solutions to several Health, Population and development challenges, including Improve the availability, quality, and accessibility of all health services, increase sustainable financing flows toward access to information and quality health services, accelerate investments in human capital and underscore that climate change is contributing to the humanitarian emergencies. In addition, stakeholders' voices will be heard, and they will have the opportunity to showcase solutions and effectively engage in critical global dialogue on Health, Population and Development implementation, with a strong emphasis on a just transition. Congress events with UN in Egypt participation will be livestreamed on the UN in Egypt official Facebook page. Related information will also be available on the UN in Egypt official website: https://egypt.un.org/en For Media inquiries please contact Nihal El Kady , UNIC Cairo Mobile # 01005401518 Email: El-Kady@un.org

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