Planning Minister, UNFPA delegation discuss continued cooperation in Egypt Egyptian government aims to build integrated database of family planning services

Egypt’s Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala El-Said has met with a delegation from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Egypt to discuss cooperation on issues of common interest.The meeting tackled UNFPA support to the Egyptian government in adapting to the new reality in light of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemicThe delegation was headed by Georges Georgi, Acting Director of the UNFPA Administration, and Aleksandar Bodiroza, the UNFPA representative whose mandate in Egypt has just ended. The meeting took place in the presence of: Ahmed Kamali, Deputy Minister of Planning and Economic Development; Amira Tawadros, Director of the Demographic Center; and Ambassador Hazem Khairat, Director of the International Cooperation Office at the Ministry.El-Said expressed her ministry’s appreciation for Bodiroza’s efforts during his tenure in Cairo, having arrived in 2016 to expand the scope of UNFPA operations and programmes on family planning and youth empowerment in Egypt. She also wished him all success in his upcoming assignment at the UNFPA office in Afghanistan.The minister highlighted the importance of the activities carried out by the ministry in cooperation with UNFPA, pointing to those activities related to the localisation of the sustainable development goals.She indicated that the government has a comprehensive family planning strategy, based on women's economic empowerment, reducing the unmet family planning method needs of women, and increasing citizen awareness of the basic concepts of population. Furthermore, the Egyptian government aims to build an integrated database of family planning services, and develop a governing legislative and regulatory framework for policies taken to control population growth.El-Said awarded Bodiroza with the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development shield in appreciation of his efforts to enhance cooperation with Egypt over the past years.