Egypt’s Ministry of Planning launches 1st round of consultations on the proposed initiative for the presidency of the COP27

The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), launched the first round of consultations on the proposed initiative for the Presidency of the Conference of the Parties (COP27) “A Decent Life for a Climate Resilient Africa”.
This came within the framework of preparations for the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (COP27), which will be held in Sharm El-Sheikh next November.


The first day began with a speech by H.E. Dr. Hala El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, via video conference, in the presence of Alessandro Fracassetti, UNDP Resident Representative, and Ambassador Seni Navo, Coordinator of the Adaptation Initiative in Africa.

 The consultations witnessed the participation of d. Jamil Helmy, Assistant Minister of Planning and Economic Development for Follow-up Affairs of the Sustainable Development Plan, and General Supervisor of the Decent Life Initiative, Dr. Mona Essam, Head of the Sustainable Development Unit (SDU) at the Ministry.







During her speech, Dr. Hala El-Said, Minister of Planning and Sustainable Development, explained that the African continent is a hotbed of being affected by climate change, as it will continue to suffer from the effects that exceed its ability to adapt and affect the quality of life of the continent's residents, especially in rural areas, from rising temperatures.

El-Said added that the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent geopolitical challenges significantly affect the global economy and further complicate the challenges that Africa is currently facing.
El-Said noted that despite these challenges, the African continent has proactively strengthened its collective efforts to address climate change.
El-Said pointed out that Africa launched its two main initiatives, namely the African Renewable Energy Initiative and the African Adaptation Initiative, during the twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties in Paris.


El-Said pointed to one of the best Egyptian success stories, which is represented in the presidential initiative "Decent Life", which aims to improve the quality of life in rural areas.

 El-Said explained that the initiative targets 58% of Egyptians, who live in 4,500 villages, at a total cost of 800 billion Egyptian pounds.

El-Said added that the " Decent Life Initiative" adopts a climate-sensitive approach, by synchronizing efforts to adapt and mitigate climate and enhance the resilience of rural communities.



El-Said emphasized that Africa supports the global effort to address climate change and to be a role model in improving the quality of life of its people, especially in rural areas.

During the first session, Assistant Minister Dr. Jamil Helmy said that the Decent Life Initiative achieves the seventeen sustainable development goals, and also ensures accountability through the establishment of monitoring mechanisms based on a participatory approach in planning, financing, implementation, and follow-up of the project, and also based on the availability of financial and human resources.

 Jamil added that the implementation of the initiative has a specific time frame, as the first phase has already begun, starting from the fiscal year 2021, and about 60% of the target has been achieved in the first phase, which covers about 1,500 villages, benefiting about 17 million Egyptians.

Jamil also reviewed the basic green interventions of the Good Life initiative, referring to the application of green building standards, solar lighting for government buildings, biogas units, and solar street lighting.

For his part, Alessandro Fracassetti, UNDP Resident Representative in Egypt said during his opening speech that these consultations allow for the placement of climate-related issues in rural areas, on the list of priorities, with the need to provide the material and socio-economic resilience that they need.


The sessions on the first day of the first round of consultations on the proposed initiative for the Presidency (COP27) Dignified Life for Climate Resilient Africa (COP27) were to discuss initial ideas and reactions of relevant stakeholders.




 The first day was also concluded with many suggestions on the expected steps to be taken to implement this initiative, as well as defining roles, and the proposed timetable for working on its launch.