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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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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06 June 2022

Transforming Egypt’s energy market

Egypt’s energy situation is changing fast. With more than 100 million people and a GDP growth rate of 5.6 percent, the country’s energy demand is ever-increasing. To help meet demand while transitioning towards a sustainable, resilient energy system, over the past decade, Egypt has embarked on an ambitious energy policy reform programme, including a set target to have 40% of its electricity come from renewable energy sources by 2035. As part of this, the country is transforming its energy market by investing in energy efficiency that has reduced significantly the sharp spike in electricity demand, diversifying its energy mix by investing more in alternative renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy. Both sources offer safer and more pleasant environments for the cities. For instance, with UNDP’s support, the government of Egypt has supported a pivotal shift in the country’s lighting market by enabling an uptake in energy-efficient lighting systems, with more than 200 million LED bulbs sold in Egypt since 2015. This has led to a decrease in lighting-related energy consumption for both individual households and businesses. The government has also heavily invested in various forms of solar power – both large and small scale. Sunlight is abundant all over Egypt, particularly in the South, and Egypt already hosts Benban, one of the largest solar parks in the world in the Aswan Governorate. In parallel, the market for small-scale solar solutions is constantly increasing. UNDP is supporting the government to ensure it has in place the policies and regulations that enable the investments needed to meet this demand. Through the award-winning ‘Egypt-PV’ project, UNDP and the government aim to remove the barriers to increase power generation by small, decentralized, grid-connected Photovoltaic (PV) systems, on easily replicable and scalable system design, implemented by households and small- and medium-sized businesses. It also paves the way towards easier implementation of solar PV projects of installed capacity 4MWp to offset 0.6 million tons of CO2equ by 2034. For homeowners or businesses, solar panels are a practical investment which helps them reduce their electricity bills while having reliable power. Samar, an Egyptian entrepreneur, used solar power to make her eco-farm project come true. For her farm to be green, she knew it had to run on clean energy. After comparing the costs of solar power compared to usual diesel generators, she realized it was also the choice that made the most economic sense. “I had a dream of having my own business. And this dream is coming true. When I started my project, I was worried that solar panels would need maintenance and cost more. My perception completely changed when I learned more about the technology and the return on investment over the year. I am able to supply the farm with clean energy through solar panels that costs less than the cost of regular generators”, said Samar. Over 40 initiatives enabled the setup of 129 solar system plants in 15 governorates, which installed capacity of 11 MWp, with 17.6 GWh/year electricity in different factories, hotels, commercial and admin buildings, houses, educational facilities etc. The project has also extended technical support to the New Administrative Capital that installed 16 MWp over 52 government buildings in the new city. The UNDP-supported project worked to strengthen the industry’s capacities by delivering professional training to around 200 trainees, with women accounted for more than 60% of the trainees. The success of the Egypt-PV project, which can help drive the country’s budding solar power transformation, has three pillars. First, the government has established an enabling policy, institutional and regulatory framework to provide the basis for sustainable market growth. Second, efforts are also ongoing to strengthen the supply chain by building the capacity of the key supply–side stakeholders. And third, critically, it was complemented by efforts to get consumers to trust and adopt these new technologies – for instance, by demonstrating their economic competitiveness and reliability. Sustainable energy sources like solar power are the energy sources of the future. The cost of solar energy continues to decrease while efficiency continues to rise. New forms of solar panels, like those fixed onto surfaces or built into glass windows, are being developed. This year, Egypt is preparing to host the 27th session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties in Sharm El-Sheikh, City of Peace. The country is already taking steps toward a greener future, aiming to transform Sharm El-Sheikh into a sustainable, eco-friendly tourist destination that will be a model to replicate in other parts of Egypt as part of the national energy transition. COP27 will also be the opportunity for Egypt to showcase how it is transforming its energy market to meet national demand and power growth while transitioning to a sustainable, resilient, forward-looking energy system.

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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

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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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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Press Release

10 August 2022

The Secretary-General's Message for International Youth Day - 12 August

Today, we celebrate International Youth Day, and the power of partnerships across generations. This year’s theme — “Intergenerational Solidarity: Creating a World for All Ages” — reminds us of a basic truth: we need people of all ages, young and old alike, to join forces to build a better world for all. Too often, ageism, bias and discrimination prevent this essential collaboration. When young people are shut out of the decisions being made about their lives, or when older people are denied a chance to be heard, we all lose. Solidarity and collaboration are more essential than ever, as our world faces a series of challenges that threaten our collective future. From COVID-19 to climate change, to conflicts, poverty, inequality and discrimination, we need all hands on deck to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and build the better, more peaceful future we all seek. We need to support young people with massive investments in education and skills-building — including through next month’s Transforming Education Summit. We also need to support gender equality and expanded opportunities for young people to participate in civic and political life. It’s not enough to listen to young people — we need to integrate them into decision-making mechanisms at the local, national and international levels. This is at the heart of our proposal to establish a new Youth Office at the United Nations. And we need to ensure that older generations have access to social protection and opportunities to give back to their communities and share the decades of lived experience they have accumulated. On this important day, let’s join hands across generations to break down barriers, and work as one to achieve a more equitable, just and inclusive world for all people. ***

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Press Release

01 August 2022

Joint Press Release – NCCPIM&TIP, UNODC, IOM, ILO, and EU World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

Cairo - 30th July of each year marks the World Day against Trafficking in Persons (TIP). During this day, the world emphasizes the significance of combatting TIP crimes, protecting victims, and bringing perpetrators to justice. TIP is an organized crime that is often transnational in nature. As per the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, a protocol to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, trafficking in persons comes in different forms with the sole purpose of exploiting vulnerable human beings. It affects girls and women as well as boys and men. Marking this day is a reminder of the importance of coordinating efforts to continue the fight against this inhumane crime. It also draws the attention of many citizens to the issue and promotes and protects the rights of victims of trafficking in persons. The National Coordinating Committee for Combating and Preventing Illegal Migration and Trafficking in Persons (NCCPIM&TIP), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) together with the European Union (EU) joined hands to collectively commemorate the fight against the crime through an event at the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At this event, an awareness raising video was showcased to provide knowledge of the situation of victims of trafficking and encourage the prevention of the crime of TIP. The video was disseminated across the partners’ social media to reach members of the public who have a role in ending trafficking in persons and supporting survivors. On this occasion, Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly noted in his statement that “Over the past year, Egypt has made significant achievements at the national, regional and international levels in this regard. The Third National Strategy for Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Persons (2022-2026) tops the list of positive developments which we are proud to have drafted after assessing what we have done, examining and analyzing what needs to be developed, updated and what requires more financial and technical resources for completion…there is no doubt that our efforts to strengthen protection activities are our concern in light of international givens, be it political or economic. Moreover, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s directives come to consolidate and crystallize this conviction. He highlighted the coordinating role played by NCCPIM&TIP between the parties concerned with countering and preventing the crime.” H.E. Ambassador Naela Gabr, Chairperson of NCCPIM&TIP, asserted that the “Use and Abuse of Technology in the Field of Trafficking in Persons" is the theme of this year's World Day against Trafficking in Persons. Here, we agree that modern technology is an effective tool in detecting the crime of trafficking in persons. But at the same time, it helps perpetrators benefit from these technological means in exploiting the most vulnerable and avoid being subject to the law. Egypt, as one of the main countries in the Group of Friends United against Trafficking in Persons in New York, took part in the draft resolution that clearly addressed this dimension. Accordingly, The Egyptian government also considered this Serious dimension when conducting its third national strategy to combat trafficking in persons 2022-2026, as it was included in its pillars, especially raising awareness and building national capacities.” Ms. Cristina Albertin, UNODC Regional Representative for the Middle East and North Africa affirmed that “The fight against Trafficking in Persons requires the full engagement and partnership amongst partners involved, on all levels (national, regional, and international). Our collective response should cope with and adapt to the dynamic nature of the crime. Having technology playing two-faceted roles in this crime makes it more challenging for detection, and rescuing. With improved responses, we can help reduce the vulnerability of victims being discriminated, re-victimized, and re-trafficked..”. Also, Mr. Laurent De Boeck, IOM’s Egypt Chief of Mission added that “The theme of the campaign of this year is the “Use and Abuse of Technology”. This represents a very specific angle which is a response to a growing issue, sometimes difficult to control. The increasing number of online materials, advertisements or sites in the search for employment shows how creative the traffickers are getting over the years. Because we are talking about innocent victims made vulnerable by unscrupulous traffickers, whose only objective is to make profit regardless of any ethical approach, it is our duty at IOM to also leverage technology to counter them. The counter–human trafficking community is often the only chance for the potential victims to avoid a life disaster. We must use technology to combat trafficking and increase support for technology-based solutions for investigations, prosecutions, raising-awareness, and providing services to victims”. Mr. Eric Oechslin, Director of the ILO‘s Cairo Country Office for Egypt and Eritrea expressed that “more than 25 million people worldwide were in forced labour for the commercial gain of others at the beginning of 2020. He added that according to ILO estimates there are at least 2.4 million trafficked persons at any given point in time. In his speech, the Director indicated that human traffickers are increasingly using technology to recruit and exploit victims as well as linking buyers and sellers, in order to conceal their identity as it provides anonymity and allows a range of payment methods such as virtual currencies. Thus, cooperation and partnerships are crucial to combat this crime.”. H.E. Ambassador Christian Berger, Head of the EU Delegation to the Arab Republic of Egypt emphasized that “Human Trafficking is a serious crime that abuses people's fundamental rights and dignity. It is a complex crime that can take cruel and profitable forms, incurring tremendous costs to the victims, and on society as a whole. For that, awareness plays a key role, by using the right language and putting out targeted messages that will support the mobilization of the public to help prevent and combat this crime.” The commemoration is unique as it combines the engagement and cooperation between three UN agencies, NCCPIM&TIP, and the EU to strengthen action towards ending TIP. For further information, please contact: Ms. Hagar Tarek
NCCPIM&TIP, Counter Human Trafficking Senior Researcher
Email: thagar030@gmail.com Ms. Nermine Abdelhamid
UNODC ROMENA, Communications and Visibility Officier
Email: nermine.abdelhamid@un.org Ms. Lobna Nahla IOM Egypt Country Office, Counter Trafficking Team
Email: IOMEgyptCTteam@iom.int Ms. Asmaa Rezk ILO Cairo Country Office, Senior Communication and Information Management Assistant Email: rezk@ilo.org

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Press Release

19 July 2022

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL -- VIDEO REMARKS TO PETERSBERG DIALOGUE

Berlin, Germany Excellencies, Eight months ago we left COP26 with 1.5 on life support. Since then, its pulse has weakened further. Greenhouse gas concentrations, sea level rise and ocean heat have broken new records. Half of humanity is in the danger zone from floods, droughts, extreme storms and wildfires. No nation is immune. Yet we continue to feed our fossil fuel addiction. What troubles me most is that, in facing this global crisis, we are failing to work together as a multilateral community. Nations continue to play the blame game instead of taking responsibility for our collective future. We cannot continue this way. We must rebuild trust and come together -- to keep 1.5 alive and to build climate-resilient communities. Promises made must be promises kept. We need to move forward together on all fronts. Mitigation. Adaptation. Finance. Loss and Damage. To protect people and the planet we need an all-of-the-above approach that delivers on each of these pillars of the Paris Agreement -- at pace and at scale. Time is no longer on our side. First, we need to reduce emissions -- now. Everyone needs to revisit their Nationally Determined Contributions. We need to demonstrate at COP27 that a renewables revolution is under way. There is enormous potential for a just energy transition that accelerates coal phase-out with a corresponding deployment of renewables. The agreement with South Africa last November sets a good precedent. Partnerships under discussion with Indonesia and Vietnam are also significant. They embody the potential of working together in a multilateral and collaborative spirit. But let me be clear: these efforts should be additional – not a replacement -- to the support that developing countries need to ensure their transition to a net-zero and climate-resilient future. I look to the G7 and the G20 to show leadership – on NDCs, on renewables and on working together in good faith. Second, we must treat adaptation with the urgency it needs. One in three people lack early warning systems coverage. People in Africa, South Asia and Central and South America are fifteen times more likely to die from extreme weather events. This great injustice cannot persist. Let’s ensure universal early warning systems coverage in the next five years, as a start. And let’s demonstrate how we can double adaptation finance to $40 billion dollars a year and how you will scale it up to equal mitigation finance. Third, let’s get serious about the finance that developing countries need. At a minimum, stop paying lip service to the $100 billion dollars a year pledge. Give clarity through deadlines and timelines and get concrete on its delivery. And let’s ensure that those who need funding most can access it. As shareholders of multilateral development banks, developed countries must demand immediate delivery of the investments and assistance needed to expand renewable energy and build climate-resilience in developing countries. Demand that these banks become fit-for-purpose. Demand that they change their tired frameworks and policies to take more risk and dramatically improve their dismal private investment mobilization ratio of 29 cents to the dollar. They should increase funding that does not require sovereign guarantees. And they should use partnerships and instruments to take on risk that will unleash the trillions of dollars of private investment we need. Let’s show developing countries that they can rely on their partners. Fourth, loss and damage has languished on the sidelines for too long. It is eroding the trust we need to tackle the climate emergency together. I have seen first-hand the impact of sea level rise, crippling drought and devastating floods. Loss and damage is happening now. We need a concrete global response that addresses the needs of the world’s most vulnerable people, communities and nations. The first step is to create a space within the multilateral climate process to address this issue -- including on finance for loss and damage. Excellencies, This has to be the decade of decisive climate action. That means trust, multilateralism and collaboration. We have a choice. Collective action or collective suicide. It is in our hands. Thank you.

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Press Release

12 July 2022

The Secretary-General .. Message on World Population Day

This year’s World Population Day falls during a milestone year, when we anticipate the birth of the Earth’s eight billionth inhabitant. This is an occasion to celebrate our diversity, recognize our common humanity, and marvel at advancements in health that have extended lifespans and dramatically reduced maternal and child mortality rates. At the same time, it is a reminder of our shared responsibility to care for our planet and a moment to reflect on where we still fall short of our commitments to one another. Amidst COVID-19, the climate crisis, wars and conflicts, humanitarian emergencies, hunger and poverty, our world is in peril. We still live in a world of vast gender inequality – and we are witnessing renewed assaults on women’s rights, including on essential health services. Complications related to pregnancy and childbirth are still the leading cause of death among girls aged 15 to 19. Reaching a global population of eight billion is a numerical landmark, but our focus must always be on people. In the world we strive to build, 8 billion people means 8 billion opportunities to live dignified and fulfilled lives. When we act on our shared values, we contribute to our common future. Let us work together towards greater equality and solidarity to ensure that our planet can support our needs and those of future generations. Let us protect human rights and the ability of all individuals to make informed choices about whether and when to have children. And let us renew our promise to fully implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development for a sustainable and inclusive future for all eight billion of us, leaving no one behind.

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Press Release

06 July 2022

Government of Egypt and UN hold second meeting of Joint Platform for Migrants and Refugees in Egypt

Cairo, 6 July 2022 - On Monday 4 July 2022, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United Nations in Egypt held the second meeting of the Joint Platform for Migrants and Refugees in Egypt. The meeting, hosted at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, focused on enhancing education and health services for migrants and refugees as well as means of implementation. On this occasion, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UN in Egypt, as co-chairs of the Joint Platform, launched a report “Common Situational Analysis on Education and Health Services for Migrants and Refugees in Egypt”. The study was jointly prepared by the Government of Egypt and the UN in Egypt and presented by the Chief of Mission of IOM in Egypt, Mr. Laurent De Boeck, and the UNHCR Representative in Egypt, Mr. Pablo Mateu, who jointly led the UN work on the report. Following the presentation there was an exchange with gathered senior Government and UN representatives, the diplomatic community, development partners and civil society organizations on the way forward, including joint approaches to implementation and funding modalities to further operationalize the Joint Platform. Deputy Assistant Foreign Minister, Ambassador Neveen El-Husseiny welcomed the engagement of various stakeholders and stressed on the importance of the Joint Platform as a pioneer coordinating mechanism that includes the Government of Egypt, the UN and international partners, with the aim of enhancing public services provided to migrants and refugees in Egypt, particularly in health and education sectors; increasing the sustainability of interventions and resilience; as well as supporting cohesion within host communities. Ambassador El-Husseiny confirmed that the Joint Platform represents a practical operationalization of the principle of burden-sharing with host countries as well as the humanitarian- developmental nexus given the protracted nature of crises in the countries of origin of refugees and migrants in Egypt. The United Nations Resident Coordinator to Egypt, Ms. Elena Panova, welcomed the second meeting of the Joint Platform and said: “This analytic study is a first concrete result of our strong partnership with the Government through the Joint Platform for Migrants and Refugees in Egypt. It provides an excellent basis for joint action to support and protect the rights of all migrants and refugees in Egypt and support the Government’s efforts to include refugees and migrants in essential public services, particularly education and health.” The analysis provides an overview of the entitlements of migrants and refugees to education and health services according to Egyptian legal provisions, in primary and university education, and primary, curative and preventive health care facilities. The study confirms that Egypt has generously made provisions for migrants and refugees to benefit from these services, often on par with Egyptians based on their nationality. Concurrently, the Government makes a significant investment, providing these services to migrants and refugees. The study also shows that access is often determined by the level of implementation of the legal provisions, while the legal status and the availability of relevant documentation are key factors when access to basic services is constrained. The study further shows that nearly two thirds of migrants indicated that limited financial resources are the main reason for a lack of access to primary education. Similarly, 40 % indicated high fees as a reason for lack of access to health services. Based on the findings of the analysis suggestions were discussed for priority areas of intervention in terms of infrastructure improvements and rehabilitation of schools and hospitals, capacity building of staff, policy development, awareness raising, and strengthening protection mechanisms to enhance access to and improve the quality of education and health services. In addition, different funding modalities and joint approaches to implementation were presented as a way to further operationalize the Joint Platform, including joint programming and the establishment of a multi partner trust fund to finance a pipeline of projects. This was the second meeting of the Joint Platform on Migrants and Refugees in Egypt, launched on 4 November 2021 by the Government of Egypt and the UN in Egypt. The Joint Platform brings together Government, the UN, development partners, donors and other stakeholders. It seeks to enhance coordination, ensure better delivery and mobilize resources to realize long term, sustainable development gains for migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and their host communities, enhancing social inclusion and cohesion. ----------------- For more information, please contact: Mr. Mohamed Adel, First Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cabinet of the Spokesperson. E-mail: ma.adel@hotmail.com Ms. Iman Mahdy Amer, Development Coordination Officer, Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Egypt. E-mail: iman.amer@un.org

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