The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development issues a report on the government's role in achieving SDGs

Egypt has a clear vision to achieve and localize the sustainable development goals: Says Hala El-Said 

The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development issued a report on the government's role in achieving the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs).
H.E. Dr. Hala El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, said that Egypt was able to achieve sustainable development despite the Corona pandemic, and was able to achieve great progress and alleviate the crisis in the national economy, while all international economies were suffering from the pandemic.
El-Said added that Egypt has a clear vision to achieve and localize the sustainable development goals, which is Egypt's Vision 2030 which is based on the principles of "comprehensive sustainable development" and "balanced regional development”.
El-Said stressed that the national economic reform program helped the Egyptian economy grow and work to achieve sustainable development and its seventeen goals. And not just local.
The report of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development on the government’s efforts to achieve the goals of sustainable development indicated that concerning the first goal: the eradication of poverty, the state-directed 750 billion pounds (from the state’s general budget) during the period (18/2019-20-2021) for social protection programs at a growth rate of 50% between the years 2016/15-202021.
As a result, many achievements have been achieved, including in the field of social protection, 3.8 million families (14.1 million citizens) benefiting from cash support programs, and 1.1 million people of determination benefiting from cash support programs at a rate of 8% of the total number of beneficiaries.
The preliminary phase of the "Decent Life" initiative also included directing about EGP 15 billion to develop the 375 most needy villages in Egypt (4.5 million citizens), which resulted in an average reduction of poverty rates in these villages by 11 percentage points.
As a result of these efforts, many development indicators have improved, including a decrease in the poverty rate in 19/2020 for the first time since 99/2000 to reach 29.7%, and a decrease in the extreme poverty rate from 6.2% in 2018/17 to 4.5% in 2019/2020.Concerning the second goal, the complete eradication of hunger, the report indicated that 150 billion pounds were directed to subsidize bread (in 3 years), with a growth rate of 50% compared to the previous three years, bringing the number of beneficiaries to 72 million citizens.Regarding the third goal, good health, and well-being, the state-directed EGP 270 billion (from the state’s general budget) during the period (18/19-20/21) for health programs with a growth rate of 70% compared to the previous three years.Concerning the fourth goal of quality education, the state-directed EGP 440 billion (from the state's general budget) during the period (18/19-20/21) for education programs with a growth rate of 42% compared to the previous three years.Concerning the fifth goal, gender equality, in the field of women’s economic empowerment, loans worth EGP 2.4 billion were provided, of which 360,000 women benefited, and the percentage of women benefiting from project development loans reached 43%.Regarding the sixth goal, clean water, and sanitation, the public investments directed to the drinking water and sanitation sector amounted to about EGP 93 billion during the period (18/19-20/21) with a growth rate of 93% compared to the previous three years’ achievements.Concerning the seventh goal, clean energy at reasonable prices, the public investments directed to the energy sector amounted to about EGP 336 billion during the period (18/19-20/21).Concerning the eighth goal, decent work, and economic growth, the state-directed EGP 270 billion (from the state’s general budget) during the period (18/19-20/21) for programs supporting economic development, with a growth rate of 82% compared to the previous three years.





Regarding the ninth goal, industry, innovation, and infrastructure, public investments directed to the industrial sector amounted to about EGP 150 billion during the period (18/19-20/21) with a growth rate of 175% compared to the previous three years.Concerning the tenth goal, reducing inequalities, 236 care, and rehabilitation institutions for people of determination were developed, 845,000 integrated service cards for people of determination were issued, 480,000 artificial limbs and prosthetic devices were provided for people of determination, and 344 pioneers were trained on early detection of disability.
Regarding the eleventh goal, sustainable cities, and local communities, the state-directed EGP 187 billion (from the state’s general budget) during the period (18/19-20/21) for housing and utility programs with a growth rate of 75% compared to the previous three years.Concerning the twelfth goal, responsible consumption, and production, 237 wells were drilled and developed, 195 underground reservoirs were dug and developed, 670 wells and rainwater harvesting tanks were constructed, 50 km were developed in valleys, benefiting about 1,000 feddans, and 3,239 water facilities were established and developed.Regarding the thirteenth goal of climate action, 38.7 km of beaches were protected, 18 tourist facilities obtained an environmental certificate, 160 underground wells were operated to work with solar energy, 3 fixed intermediate stations were established, 709 equipment for solid waste was provided, and the efficiency of 5 waste recycling plants was raised. In addition to establishing 146 home biogas units.As for the fourteenth goal, life underwater, 40 field trips were carried out to monitor the quality of water in the Nile River, lakes, and seas, reduce pollution loads from industrial drainage on Lake Manzala by 91 tons/year, implement a project for the treatment and recycling of industrial sewage completely for Abu Qir Fertilizer Company to reduce Pollution loads on the Mediterranean Sea by 4.45 tons/year.Concerning the fifteenth goal, life on land, the ecosystems of about 7.7000 km of natural reserves were evaluated, and the volume of visitors to natural reserves reached 2 million, with revenues of 242 million pounds, and 4 sites in nature reserves were approved.

As for the sixteenth goal, peace, justice, and strong institutions, 5777 preaching convoys, 546 training courses, and 175 awareness campaigns were organized to confront intellectual extremism and correct misconceptions, inaugurating the International Endowment Academy to qualify and train imams and preachers and prepare trainers.


As for the seventeenth goal, establishing partnerships to achieve the goals, Egypt’s Sovereign Fund achieved the first huge foreign investment in November 2019 after announcing the establishment of a strategic investment platform between Egypt and the UAE with a value of $20 billion, in addition to subscribing to the majority of the third round of raising the capital of the Egyptian Education Fund with a value exceeding EGP 250 million.