The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development discusses the implementation steps for the 1st phase of the "Green Village" initiative

The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, represented by Dr. Jamil Helmy, Assistant Minister for Follow-up of the Sustainable Development Plan, held recently a virtual workshop to discuss the implementation steps of the first phase of the "Green Village" initiative, within the national project for the development of the Egyptian countryside, "A Decent Life".

The workshop witnessed the participation of representatives of governors in 4 governorates (New Valley, Sohag, Fayoum, Sharqia), and Sarah El Battouty. Global Ambassador for UNFCCC High-Level Climate Champions. Green entrepreneur and founder of ECONSULT.

Dr. Jamil Helmy, General Supervisor of Decent Life at the Ministry of Planning reviewed the basic features of the "Green Village" initiative. He indicated that it aims to rehabilitate one village in each governorate within the "Decent Life" project, complying with the latest international environmental standards of the World Green Building Council.

The Assistant Minister of Planning and Economic Development stated that the "Green Village" initiative comes within the framework of the serious efforts made by the state to transform into a green economy, spread a culture of environmental sustainability in the Egyptian countryside, and achieve sustainable rural development, stressing the importance of achieving integration between all relevant initiatives, including "Go Green” and “The National Initiative for Smart Green Projects”.

Helmy pointed out that the success achieved by the Ministry of Planning in cooperation with success partners from the private sector, represented by the ECONSULT Engineering and Environmental Consulting Company and the Egyptian Green Building Association, was represented in the obtaining of the “Tarsheed” certificate by the village of “Faris” in Aswan Governorate as the first green village at Republic level.

Helmy explained that the Ministry of Planning had received nominations from the governorates regarding green villages, and a number of them were selected, according to a set of criteria, the most important of which is the implementation of green projects within the “Decent Life” initiative, including triple sewage stations, rehabilitation and lining of canals, and modern irrigation systems.

Regarding the targeted implementation steps, the Assistant Minister of Planning indicated that the coming period will witness an intensification of cooperation with the governorates, and field visits by a delegation from the ministry and officials of the ECONSULT company, to verify the availability of the necessary criteria for qualifying the villages nominated for the "Tarsheed" certificate.

For her part, Engineer Sarah El Battouty, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of “EConsult” gave a brief presentation on the criteria required to qualify villages to obtain “Tarsheed” certificates, according to three main pillars: energy, water, and resources, stressing the importance of cooperation between the executive agencies. In the governorates, civil society organizations and the private sector implement projects that qualify the villages.

El Battouty explained that "A Decent Life" is a pioneering and unique initiative in the development of the Egyptian countryside and a pioneering experience that attracts the attention of various countries of the world, which have expressed a desire to benefit from it and exchange experiences regarding it, especially African countries, especially as it takes into account all the UN SDGs

Dr. Mohamed Imad, Deputy Governor of Al-Fayoum, emphasized the need to ensure that one of the nominated villages receives (Tarsheed) (Rationalization) a certificate to join the list of green villages at the level of the Republic.

He praised the cooperation with the Ministry of Planning and the company " ECONSULT" in this regard, stressing that the governorate will spare no effort to coordinate with civil society organizations and private and academic institutions so that all efforts complement projects and initiatives implemented in the candidate village.

Dr. Ahmed al-Qadi, Deputy Governor of Sohag, welcomed his governor's participation in the "Green Village" initiative. He noted that the village that meets the criteria for obtaining a "rationalization" certificate would be a model for other provincial villages as well as neighboring villages belonging to other governorates.

For her part, Ms. Hanan Magdy, Deputy Governor of the New Valley, indicated that all projects implemented in the governorate take into account the environmental dimension. She also noted that the governorate has won several awards for environmental sustainability.

Dr. Ahmed Abdel Moaty, Deputy Governor of Sharkia, confirmed the readiness of all executive bodies in the governorate to cooperate with the Ministry of Planning and the "E-consult" company. This is to meet the criteria for rehabilitating a village in Al-Husseiniyah to obtain a "Tarsheed" certificate for green communities.